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“I love it when you blush for me, love,” Jax purrs, and my skin prickles in response as a familiar electricity flows through me.

We’re lying in bed together, his arms wrapped tightly around me. I’m snuggled into him, so close that I can see the beads of perspiration on his naked chest and feel his breath on my skin.

I am thoroughly and utterly spent in a way that only Jax can make me. My body is slick with sweat, my muscles are still rolling with the aftershocks of the orgasms that rocked through me only moments ago, and my thighs are damp as the evidence of our activities runs down my legs.

His comment makes me blush even more.

“I love watching you blush almost as much as I love watching you take all of me.” Flames of desire dance behind his piercing green eyes as they study my own before trailing down the length of my naked body.

I will never get used to how he looks at me, as if he will devour every inch of me over and over again, an attempt to fill his insatiable hunger for the taste of me on his lips.

His fingers trail lazy circles over my body, and I can’t help but try to move closer to him, leaning into his touch.

His calloused hands so rough from a lifetime of hardship are so gentle with me, once again showing how multifaceted he is—a notorious crime lord to the outside world, and a caring, protective, and extremely thorough lover only to me.

A smile flickers across my face in response to my summary of him, of the man I would do anything to be with.

“Penny for your thoughts, love?” he says, pressing his lips to my forehead. I can feel his kiss even as he pulls away.

“I was just thinking about how you’re an incredibly thorough lover,” I say, humor lacing my words.

“Is that so?”

“It is,” I reply solemnly, nodding my head.

He cocks his head to the side. “How thorough?”

“Definitely top three I’ve ever had,” I say jokingly.

“I better do something about that then, love. Surely with a bit of work we can get me to number one…” He trails off as his eyes travel from my face to my breasts and then lower. “Yes, I think I should definitely do something to deserve a higher rating.”

He licks his lips but doesn’t move another muscle, waiting for my invitation.

“What exactly do you have in mind, Mr. Turner?” I ask coyly, knowing exactly how I’m drawing this out, the tension building between us as heat gathers at my core.

“What I have in mind,” he starts, his voice gravelly with desire, “is putting my tongue right here…” He trails off as his fingers lightly flow over my nipple, and a shiver of anticipation courses through me. “And then here…” His fingers trail lower, circling a path around my stomach before his hand drops even lower.

I roll away from him slightly, exposing more of myself to his gaze and touch as I unhook my leg from his body and he props himself up. His eyes are smoldering with a desire I know too well and his breathing starts to quicken again.

“And then here…” His finger traces circles around my thigh, high enough that my own breathing starts to become ragged, as the fire in my core begins to build yet again.

His fingers trail dangerously high on my legs, his knuckles brushing my sex, and a breathy moan escapes my lips.

The smile on his lips is audible.

“Tell me where else you’d like my lips, love,” he commands.

I do as he says, trailing a hand down my body, as Jax’s gaze follows it intently.

“I want you here.” I brush over my other breast. “And here,” I say, my hand brushing over the apex of my thighs, rubbing myself ever so lightly.

“Show me what you want me to do,” he says, his voice heavy with desire, his own arousal evident as his hardness presses against my side.

I shift my leg over more, bending my knee as I lay fully on my back, and run my finger down my core. My breath catches as I circle my clit lightly, still sensitive from earlier.

I continue tracing around myself slowly as wetness gathers between my legs, my other hand moving to my breast and tweaking my nipple as a moan escapes my lips.

I feel the growl of approval as it works its way out of Jax’s mouth, his hand resting firmly on my inner thigh, not moving an inch, as if he is frozen in time, too mesmerized watching me.

“And then I want your mouth here,” I say, watching him as I dip my fingers into myself, surprised by just how ready I am for him, how much I need him.

His hand moves for mine, holding my wrist gently and guiding my fingers out of me, now slick with my own arousal. He brings them to his lips and slowly runs his tongue over them, licking them clean as if savoring the taste of me.

His eyes dance.

“Anywhere else you want my mouth, love?”

“If I think of anything I’ll let you know—”

He moves before the last word is fully past my lips, his tongue circling my nipples one at a time as his hands explore my body. A shiver of pleasure washes over me in response to his touch, and I arch into him, wanting—needing—more. He doesn’t stay in one place long, his movements urgent as he devours me, his mouth trailing licks, kisses, and nips over my skin as he makes a path down my body before settling himself between my legs, the weight of his presence feeling like home.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

My attention darts from him, looking for the source of the noise, quiet enough that Jax doesn’t seem to notice it as he places my legs over his shoulders.

A moan escapes my lips as his tongue glides up my center. I arch my back as he consumes me, as butterflies gather in my chest and desire flows through my veins.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The noise pulls me away from the euphoria that threatens to consume me as Jax’s tongue follows the trail I set out for him, devouring every inch of my pussy as if he is starving for the taste of me.

I look around as I run my hands through his hair, trying to find the source of the noise that’s distracting me from the man between my legs.

“Fuck, if this is what heaven is like then I will gladly die between your thighs, love,” he growls, his breath hot on my core. I arch towards him, wanting his tongue back on me.

My breathing stops as he dips his tongue into me, lapping at the desire pooled between my legs and I can’t help but pull his hair, my body coiled tight in response to his movements.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I pause, the sound now louder and too hard to ignore.

“Do you hear that?” I ask, trying to get his attention.

“I don’t hear anything except your moans, love,” he says huskily between licks.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Seriously, Jax, what is that?” I look around his room again, unable to see the source of the noise, but feeling as though something is off.

“Focus on me,” he says, his hands gripping my thighs firmly. “Just stay with me a little longer.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

My heart starts to pound in my chest, but not because of the ecstasy that was threatening to consume me moments ago. I’m suddenly on edge, and I can’t help but feel as though something bad is about to happen.

Jax seems to notice, pausing his efforts to bring me over the edge, and instead moving up the bed to lay beside me.

“Penny for your thoughts, love?” he asks sincerely.

I nuzzle into him again, attempting to calm my nerves, but despite his presence, my heart rate begins to quicken and my breathing becomes shallow. My desire is replaced by adrenaline as I try to figure out where the noise is coming from and why everything feels so off.

I take a deep breath and inhale slowly, trying to steady myself against him, but the strong smell of cologne hits the back of my nose.

I startle and look at Jax in confusion.

This is wrong , I think to myself. This is all wrong.

I run my hands over his bare stomach, his muscles tightening in response to my touch, but the warmth of his skin is nowhere to be found, and I shiver as my hands trail up his cold body, feeling as though I am reaching through a veil to get to him.

I inhale again, searching desperately for the familiar scent of home, of leather and citrus, but once again I’m met with an overpowering smell of cologne.

“Jax. What’s going on?” I say, trying to hold the panic at bay long enough to make sense of this.

My eyes find his and he looks at me with a sad smile, grief straining his features.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Remember the promise I made you, love. Remember it for me.” He reaches for me, trailing circles around my skin, except now his touch feels far away.

I close my eyes, focusing on my breathing, trying not to succumb to the terror building inside of me.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I open my eyes slowly, and the tapping stops abruptly.

I squint, temporarily blinded by a bright light while trying to make out the room around me.

“Ah, you’re finally awake,” a familiar voice drawls as Rhett steps into view.