Page 4 of Traitorous Lies (Prey Security: Charlie Team #6)

Cheeks flaming with embarrassment, Monique was convinced every single person there must know the thought running through her mind.

Thoughts very unlike her.

Thoughts of this man crushing his lips to hers in a fiery kiss.

His hands roaming her body, tweaking her nipples, his tongue plunging into her, making her scream, then he’d slam home and take her with hard thrusts until she lost the ability to do anything, even breathe.

Jaxon wouldn't treat her like spun glass like all her other lovers had.

Those boyfriends thought she was fragile, delicate, but she was neither of those things.

She wrangled animals every day, some of them weighing close to as much as she did.

She could handle a little hot, rough sex.

In fact, she wanted to handle a little hot, rough sex.

With Jaxon.

“Did you drive here yourself?” Jaxon asked as they stepped through the front door and a waft of cool air caressed her skin.

A poor imitation of what it would feel like to have Jaxon’s hands or mouth worshipping her skin.

“Monique?”

“Oh, umm, no, a driver brought me,” she answered, knowing she was bright red and positive he knew the cause of her blush.

“Can you cancel the car, and I’ll take you back to your hotel later?”

“Of course.” It was easy enough, although she was sure it would get back to her grandparents that she’d dipped out of the event a mere forty minutes into it.

They’d be disappointed, and in return, she’d be upset that she’d let them down.

Since her dad had basically disappeared from her life as soon as her mom bailed on them, her grandparents were the closest thing she had to parents, even if she’d mostly been raised by nannies.

“Hey, we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I didn't mean to pressure you.” Jaxon’s hand lifted to palm her cheek, and nuzzling into it was the easiest thing in the world.

“You didn't pressure me, and I do want to leave with you,” she assured him. “I’ll text the driver in the car.” The cool air was quickly becoming cold, and since she was dressed only in this ridiculous ball gown that couldn’t be less her, she wasn't really protected from the icy wind.

“Here.” Something warm and soft dropped onto her shoulders, and she realized that Jaxon had taken off his tuxedo jacket and draped it over her.

Not only did it cut out the cold wind, and feel delectable against her skin, but it also smelled just like him, and she snuggled it closer and drew in a deep breath.

Feeling Jaxon’s eyes on her, Monique lifted her head to meet his gaze. There was something unreadable in his expression, but there were also things she could read. The most prominent being desire.

He was attracted to her. Because of her last name or because of her, she wasn't sure. Then again, he’d seemed impressed that she ran an animal rescue and was there to raise money for it.

And she’d been clear she wasn't into stuffy, boring, rich guys.

Even though she knew he had to be one of them, he was there after all, he didn't feel like it.

Jaxon felt like …

She wasn't even sure.

Something cozy, like snuggling up in front of a fire on a freezing winter’s night.

Which was insane since she didn't even know his last name. Still, she couldn’t deny that something buzzed between them, and if he was willing, she’d like to see where it could go.

“Sir.”

They both startled when a valet appeared beside them, holding out a set of keys to Jaxon, who took them, then reclaimed his grip on her hand and guided her down the steps, and to the passenger seat of his car.

Once he was inside, he got the heat going, and Monique supposed she should offer him his jacket back, but she didn't. It would probably be too creepy to ask if she could keep it as a reminder of this magical night, so she pressed her lips together as Jaxon drove them down the long, tree-lined driveway.

“Tell me about yourself,” Jaxon’s voice rumbled through the dark car as they headed off down the road away from the remote country estate.

“What did you want to know?” Monique shifted slightly in her seat so she could see him better, and she all but melted when he shot her a charming smile.

“Everything.”

Laughing, she tugged the jacket tighter around herself, imagining that it was Jaxon’s arms around her, and pretending that he wanted to know everything about her because he felt this pull as much as she did.

“I’d like to learn about you, too. Maybe we could trade off?

Each ask the other a question, one for one? ”

For a second his hands tightened on the steering wheel, and she got the uneasy feeling that talking about himself was the last thing he wanted to do.

Had she made a mistake in trusting him?

With her family’s money, she should be more careful when it came to her safety, only the thing was, Jaxon felt safe. Safer than anything else she’d ever experienced.

His hands relaxed, and he shot her a sheepish smile. “Sorry, it’s just weird how much I really want to know the tiniest things about you. Wasn't expecting that to happen.”

“Me either,” Monique acknowledged as she relaxed.

That was why he’d seemed off for a moment, he was overcome by the same feelings she was.

She wanted to know literally everything about this man.

Big stuff, little stuff, all of it. This might not be love at first sight, but it was certainly a connection at first sight, if that was even a thing.

“You can ask first,” he offered.

Since a million questions ran through her head, she picked one at random. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-one.”

“So five years older than me, practically an old man,” she teased, making him laugh. “Your turn.”

“What's your favorite color?”

“This is going to ruin the image I was building of not being this spoiled, rich princess everyone thinks I am, but pink. The bright Barbie kind. Preferably with glitter.”

Jaxon laughed again. “Nothing wrong with liking pink, princess.”

Normally, when someone called her princess, she interpreted it as an insult. After all, it was what the media had always called her. But when Jaxon said it, the word seemed to roll off his tongue and hit her straight between the legs.

“Your turn.”

“Hmm, did you play sports in high school?”

For a second his gaze darted over to her, and she could see the surprise in it, he hadn't expected that question. Along with the surprise was a dose of pain that made her ache to reach out and soothe it away, but they weren't at that point yet.

As his gaze shifted back to the road, Jaxon suddenly froze. It was like his entire body turned to stone, and the joy and excitement she’d been feeling at meeting someone who seemed to like her for her and not just her last name quickly evaporated.

“What's wrong?”

“Maybe nothing,” Jaxon replied, but his voice had gone hard, and she doubted that was the truth.

“Tell me. I'm not some wilting little princess who can't handle anything more vigorous than a massage,” she snapped, sick of being treated like she was some china doll.

“Never thought you were, princess,” Jaxon said, his voice calm and controlled. “Car approaching us from behind, coming at us faster than it should be.”

Spinning in her seat, she looked out the back window and immediately spotted the headlights, so much closer than she’d been expecting, and they weren't slowing down. It looked like the other vehicle was flying straight at them.

“It’s going to hit us,” Jaxon shouted mere seconds before they were slammed into.

The car swerved wildly as Jaxon fought for control, but the other vehicle hit them again and they went spinning wildly toward the trees lining the road.

Monique’s last thought was terror that this was a ransom kidnapping attempt and she’d dragged Jaxon into danger, right before pain splintered between her temples, and the world went black.