Page 128 of Shadows of Obsession

My breath caught.

"After everything we've been through," he continued, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand, "the way my feelings for you have grown stronger with each passing day… Anna, I would love nothing more than to wake up next to you every morning. Not just while Connor's home or while we're rebuilding the cabin, but always."

He leaned in, capturing my lips in a tender kiss that made my toes curl. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine. "Move in with me. Make this our home."

Our home.The idea resonated with me:He wants this to be our home.

My heart raced, a mix of excitement and fear warring inside me. This was fast. So fast. But it also felt… right. Being with Jaxon felt right in a way nothing with Daniel ever had.

"Jaxon," I said softly, pulling back enough to meet his eyes. "First off, you've been waking up next to me every day for over three weeks now."

His lips twitched. "True. But you're staying in Connor's guest room. I'm staying in Connor's other guest room. We're sneaking around like teenagers."

I couldn't help but smile—he was right. We'd been taking turns staying in each other's rooms, trying to respect Connor's house even though he'd made it clear he was fine with our relationship.

"And secondly…" I hesitated, feeling heat creep up my neck as I gathered courage to voice what had been on my mind. "You're talking about moving in together, making this huge commitment, but…"

I pushed myself to just say it, to be honest.

I took a breath. "But sometimes I feel like you're still holding back. Like you're afraid to fully let me in. We've been intimate, yes, but there are moments when I catch you pulling away, shutting down when things get too emotional."

Jaxon's expression shifted, understanding and something resembling guilt flickering across his features. He reached up, cupping my cheek, thumb tracing the delicate curve of my cheekbone.

"You're right," he admitted quietly. "I have been holding back in some ways. Not physically—God, Anna, you have no idea how much I want you, how hard it's been to keep my hands off you when we're together."

Heat pooled low in my belly, but I stayed focused on his words.

"But emotionally," he continued, his voice rougher now, "I've been terrified. Terrified of feeling so much for you. Terrified of losing you the way I lost Nikki. Terrified that if I let myself fully fall, fully commit, something will happen and I'll be destroyed all over again."

Tears pricked at my eyes as I covered his hand with mine, holding it against my cheek. "I'm scared too," I whispered. "After Daniel, after everything… trusting someone, letting someone this close—it terrifies me. But Jax, you're not Daniel. And I'm not Nikki. What we have is ours, something completely different."

"I know," he said, voice thick with emotion. "And I don't want to waste another second being afraid. I don't want to hold back anymore. I want to build a life with you, Anna. A real life. Here, in this cabin we're rebuilding together."

He drew in a deep breath, gaze never leaving mine. "I want to wake up next to you every morning and fall asleep with you every night. I want to argue about where to put furniture and what color to paint the walls. I want to build something permanent, something that's ours."

My heart swelled at his words, the sincerity and depth of his emotion washing over me like a warm, comforting embrace. "I wantthat too," I murmured, leaning into his touch. "More than I thought I'd ever want anything again."

"So move in with me," he said again, more confident this time. "Officially. Make this our home. I know it's fast, and I know we're both still healing, but Anna—I don't want to wait to start our life together."

"Yes. I'll move in with you."

The smile that broke across Jaxon's face was brilliant, transforming his features from serious and intense to boyish and joyful. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," I confirmed, laughing as he pulled me into his arms, rolling us over on the mattress until I was beneath him, his weight pressing me into the plush surface.

"We should probably test out this new bed properly," he murmured against my lips, voice dropping to that low, rough tone that always made my pulse race. "Break it in, so to speak."

Heat surged through me at his words, at the promise in his eyes. "I think that's an excellent idea," I said, hands already sliding under his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine.

With a low growl, Jaxon claimed my lips in a searing kiss that stole my breath. His tongue swept against mine, possessive and demanding, making me moan. His hands trailed fire down my sides, even through the fabric, before finding the hem and tugging it upward.

I lifted my arms, letting him pull the shirt over my head, and felt his sharp intake of breath at the black lace bra I wore beneath. The way he looked at me, like I was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, made me feel powerful, desired, alive in a way I never had with Daniel.

"God, Anna," he breathed, eyes dark with want as they roamed over me. "You're so fucking beautiful."

Heat rose to my cheeks, but I held his gaze. "Your turn," I said, tugging at his shirt.

He grinned, sitting back on his heels, peeling it off in one smooth motion. The muscles of his chest and abs flexed enticingly, and I couldn't resist running my hands over the hard planes of his stomach, feeling them shift under my touch.