Acts of Desperation(21)

I took a seat on the bench just outside his dressing room and noticed a small crack in the curtain. Jax’s reflection stared at me in the mirror. His hands and arms moved up and down, tugging his shirt from his waistband, and I couldn’t peel my eyes away. He undid his buttons slowly, each one giving a more revealing glimpse than the last. His dark chest hair lightly blanketed his hard pecs, trailing downward over his rippling abs before trickling into a thin line, and then disappearing into the mystery that lied beneath.

Provoking and taunting me from his chamber of torture, he undid the last button and lifted the shirt off his strong shoulders, revealing his lethal weapon—the chiseled V of his pelvic muscles. It only confirmed that he was absolute sculpted perfection. He shook the shirt from his arms, and retrieved the new one off the hanger. He unfastened his belt and unbuttoned his pants. I was breathless with anticipation, staring on, waiting for him to show me more, and then suddenly he stopped moving. I looked up slowly, completely lost in him, and drew in a quick breath when I met his eyes. He’d caught me, and his grin said it all—he liked it. As he finished dressing, his eyes never left mine.

He pulled the curtain back eventually breaking his stare. Without saying a word, he walked to the register and finished his transaction. When we stepped into the common space of the building, my heart pounded, and I looked at the revolving doors that led outside.

“Should we call Fritz?” I said, slightly nervous and looking out to the empty curb.

He didn’t utter a word and looked across the hall. When he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward a dark corner next to a set of elevators, I had to almost run to keep up with him.

“What are we do—?” I said, but before I could finish my sentence, he slammed me up against the cold tile wall and his hungry mouth was on mine. He greedily parted my eager lips, and at last I tasted his sweet breath. He laced his fingers through the tangles of my hair, cupping the sides of my head and released a low moan.

As our tongues entwined, the stubble of his beard began numbing my lips. He pressed his body into mine, and I felt his heart pounding against my chest. It fueled me to feel the effect I was having on him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him closer. Our heated kiss continued, and I felt his growing bulge press against my abdomen. I resisted my urge to jump and wrap my legs around his waist.

I heard laughter somewhere deep off into the background, and I opened my eyes as he trailed kisses down my neck. A couple was walking through the lobby, hand in hand, and I caught their sideways glances as they passed. But then, up on the second floor, I saw a lone man watching us. I gazed up at his blank face as my passion swelled. This stranger was witnessing our secret moment, and I loved every minute of it.

Jax slowly pulled back, and every molecule in my body wanted to scream in protest. Sensing my dissention, he traced his lips against my neck again, teasing me, and inched upward, toward the soft skin behind my ear. The wetness from his tongue left a cold tingling trail in its wake and sent a chill through my body.

His voiced hummed in my ear. “We’d better stop now. I’m five seconds away from the point of no return.”

I closed my eyes and laughed. I wanted him with every ounce of my being and the whole display was completely out of character for me. But he was right, we needed to stop.

“Yeah, this could get us into trouble,” I said.

He picked up his phone and called Fritz. We waited in the dark hallway, stealing a few more kisses, until we saw the car pull up. Regretfully, we headed back to work. Within seconds it seemed, we were back out in front of our building.

We took an empty elevator up to our floor, and he backed me up against the wall.

“Hey now,” I said. “We’re at work. Let’s be professional at the office. I’d hate to give off the wrong impression.”

“We’re in an elevator, behind closed doors, this doesn’t count as the office,” he said, and when he was an inch from my face, stealing my breath, the elevator dinged. He stepped back immediately and looked forward, but his stern expression was laced with a hint of a smile.

Jax walked out first, and then we were met with Dee’s concerned face. “Sember, your sister has called here at least five times for you. Did you forget your cell? I’ve been trying to call you too,” she said.

Something was wrong, I could feel it. Heat flooded my cheeks, as I dug through my purse.

“What’s wrong?” Jax asked.

I looked up and exhaled. “Shoot! I must have left it plugged in on my desk. I can’t believe I did that.”

“Sember?” Dee said.

“It’s fine. I-I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said quickly, knowing in my heart it was anything but. I smiled uneasily, trying to hide my concern. “I’m sorry,” I said to Jax. “Thanks for lunch, but I have to go.”

I didn’t wait for his response and hurriedly walked down the hall. I shut the door and leaned over my desk to grab my phone.

I had ten missed calls from Sarah.





Chapter Ten


“Where the heck are you?” Sarah barked into the phone. I could tell she’d been crying.

“Sorry, I was at lunch and forgot my phone. What’s wrong?” I asked.

“That freaking judge found me in contempt!” she said, starting to cry.

Although it was bad news, I was slightly relieved; I was afraid Anders had done something crazy. “Ok, it’s going to be alright. Tell me what happened?”