Page 23

Stripped Bare

A fter I pull myself out of my funk, I decide we should go for food instead of eating in our room again. They are happy to follow me, so now I find myself surrounded by my men. The mess hall is full, the fighters and masters winding down for the day over a meal and drinks.

At least twenty tables in all shapes and sizes are scattered throughout the utilitarian room.

The floor is a mixture of mismatched cracked tile and stone, the walls an unappealing grey.

A serving hatch sits at one end of the room, and a table with trays and cutlery next to it.

A makeshift bar sits along the back wall, with opened bottles of spirits ready to drink.

I’m waiting for Maxen and Drax to come back with the food when a voice comes from behind me.

So far, the others in the room have kept a polite distance.

I ignore it, hoping whoever it is will go away.

It seems I'm shit out of luck when they round the table to stand in my eye line. My eyebrows rise when I realise it’s the slave I saved today. She offers me a shy smile.

“Hi, I just wanted to thank you.” She eyes Drax and Thorn appreciatively before sitting down opposite me in the spot between them that Jax had just vacated.

“You’re welcome. Was there something else?

” She pulls her eyes from Thorn’s muscles with effort to focus on me.

Jax sits down next to me and pushes some food in front of me.

Maxen sits on my other side, eyeing the girl as he adds a drink in front of me.

Her eyes rove over them both before stopping on Jax.

His face loses all emotion, making me realise he had started to show more around the guys.

“Erm, yeah. I erm-” She looks back at me, “Major told me it’s you who I thank for getting me set free, so I guess I owe you a double thanks.” I tilt my head in confusion.

“He didn’t tell you?”

I shake my head “Oh, well he said he set me free for you and he offered me a job as well. So, I owe you my life. You can’t imagine how horrible it was being that pig’s slave.” I don’t correct her, but offer her a nod. She smiles at me before her eyes are drawn back to Jax.

Annoyance flares through me as she eyes him appreciatively. I grit my teeth and down some of the warm beer Maxen brought me. His hand lands on my thigh under the table, making me jump. He grins, which I catch out of the corner of my eye and I roll them.

“Being free does have some perks. You single, honey?”

I almost spit my next mouthful of beer at her.

I go to tell her he's mine, but then I think about it. We never spoke about what we are to each other, especially Jax. Yes, we seem to have a connection, but that doesn’t mean he won’t want to fuck the woman in front of me.

She's good looking and obviously wants him.

I swallow my protests and wait to see how he reacts.

I won't stop him going with her even if it will hurt me. I don’t realise I'm rigid until I hear his voice.

“No.” His voice is flat and he concentrates on eating, not even giving her the time of day. The fist around my heart unclenches and I draw in a long breath. I put the cup down and pick at my food. She turns to Maxen.

“What about you, cutie?”

Does this bitch ever give up? I eye my fork, debating whether it would be rude to stab it through the eyes she is using to undress him. He starts to rub circles on my thigh. I grind my teeth so hard I can almost hear them crack.

She leans over, flashing her tits at him and smiles seductively. This motherfucker really wants to get stabbed. I'm going to cut off her tits if she keeps flashing them.

“Me and you could have a good time.” She lowers her voice, obviously trying to be sexy. To me she sounds like a twat but I could be biased.

“Is that right?” Maxen’s voice stops me imagining killing her and instead I turn my fury on him. If this asshole thinks he can flirt with some ho while trying to touch me I’m going to cut off his hand and shove it so far up his-

“Oh yeah, honey.” She purrs. He leans back, gripping my thigh to keep me in my seat. Jax’s hand drops on my other thigh and I throw a glare at him before turning back to the massive cunt hitting on my men. I don’t even debate why I am calling them mine all of a sudden, it just feels right.

“Really? You see, this woman who saved your life today by fighting when you wouldn’t, is my current - as you call it - good time.

So, not only are you hitting on her man, you are pissing off the only person in here who gives a fuck if you stay alive.

” The woman pales and turns her eyes on me.

No longer sultry, she looks like she's about to piss herself.

I bare my teeth at her as Maxen chuckles .

“So what can you really offer me that she can’t? She’s a strong as fuck fighter which, to be honest, makes me harder than I can ever remember. She's so fucking sexy without trying, and she’s the bravest, craziest bitch I have ever met.” He eyes her in disdain and it loosens some of my anger.

“You couldn’t even free yourself and now you’re flinging yourself at any man who will have you. It's sad really, you should take a lesson from Worth here. Get some dignity and learn how to survive in this world, because I have a feeling she won't be saving you anymore.”

I have to bite my lip to hold in my smile at the fact he called me Worth, so that no one would know my name. His words wash the anger and my lingering doubts from earlier away. I lean back in my chair and watch her as she cries and tries to stutter out an apology to me.

When I don’t say anything, she stumbles up from the table like it's on fire and flees from the room like the hounds of hell are chasing her. My eyes track her out of the door and I debate following her and stabbing her in the stupid tits. Jax grabs my hand away from where I was massaging my knife and squeezes it. Huh, I didn’t even know I’d reached for it.

Drax and Thorn burst out laughing and congratulate Maxen but my anger is still burning in the background, my demons raising their ugly heads, mingling with Major’s words from earlier.

Jax stands from the table and offers me his hand. I blink and look at him carefully. He stands completely still, letting me choose. I look into his eyes for answers but when I don’t find any, I gently place my hand in his. He pulls me to my feet and twines his hand with mine.

“We will be back in a minute.” He says before pulling me after him.

I follow him silently, he doesn’t speak either. He pulls me outside and around until we are around the back of the building and then he lets go of my hand. I miss the warmth immediately but I lean casually against the wall and tilt my head to watch the stars.

“How did you know I needed to get away?” My voice is soft. I am trying really hard but I need to hit something right about now.

“Because it’s what I would need.” My eyes lower to his, he is standing in front of me with his deep grey eyes searching mine. He steps closer and his eyes dart nervously between mine.

“Why didn’t you claim me in front of her?”

I suck in a breath, his words so close to my own line of thinking inside. His eyes dare me to tell him the truth, and I've never been one to back down from a dare.

“I didn’t know you were mine.”

His arms come up and cage me against the wall so it’s just us and the stars above .

“I'm yours. I was yours since you smiled at me, I was yours since you held my brother as he slept. It might be soon, and crazy, but so is this world. When tomorrow is not guaranteed, I refuse to hesitate. So, yes I’m yours, little warrior.” His voice is sure and deep and my eyes drop to his lips automatically.

“You haven’t made a move like the others,” I hear the vulnerability in my voice and want to run away but his arms won't let me. Jax's opinion matters, he understands me even when I don’t understand myself. I need to be sure.

“Truth?” He asks hesitantly, shyness overcoming him. Not something I would ever use to describe Jax normally.

“Always, even if I don’t want to hear it.” He sucks in a breath and watches me intently.

“I don’t know how to. I'm not like my brother. Women never really interested me.”

“Wait, you prefer men?” I tilt my head in confusion. His cheeks heat and I want to kiss them.

“No. I like women, well one woman. I never bothered before. I couldn’t let them close enough to do anything in case they saw my demons and ran. They would. I wouldn’t mean to but I would hurt them one day. I can’t lose control like that. They were all too weak.”

“So, you’re a virgin?” Something in me jumps for joy at that. I've never had a virgin. Knowing that he has only been with me? Huge turn on.

“Yes, I'm not ashamed. Fucking some random slut didn’t interest me. But I want you Worth, and knowing you're strong enough to handle me?” His eyes catch me in their depths, the fire burning in the grey. My vulnerability and hesitancy disappears. No matter what happens, here at this moment, Jax is mine. This hardened warrior is showing me his demons and asking me to fight them with him. Something inside me snaps and I know my grin is a little evil. All the desire and need from earlier comes rushing back, only heightened by the idea of having Jax at my every whim and control. Having him on his knees, teaching him the pleasure that could be between us. I grab his head and pull it to me slowly. He doesn’t resist, allowing me to do what I want.

I lick at his lips and nip, not holding back my strength.

I swallow his sharp inhale and cover his lips with mine. Biting and licking, I wait for him to open before teaching him exactly how to kiss me. His lips are unsure and clumsy, but he follows me with pleasure. I pull back to see his unfocused eyes and hear his short sharp breathing.

“Hands on the wall,” I demand. He instantly smashes them back on the wall from where they were drifting. I purr and kiss his lips in praise.