Jax (Titan #9)(25)

"Let's not be mean, but a little playful."

"Americans." The bartender chuckled then transitioned into Spanish with the businessmen before making Jax's shot.

Seven watched him offer it to Jax. Jax refused the shot but then took the small glass back from the bartender.

What was he doing?

Jax flung the shot glass down the mahogany bar, past the businessmen, and it came to a slow stop in front of Seven. Her heart jumped, and she would have been lying if she said that wasn't impressive. Seven gave him a slow clap, and he returned with a small nod. Seven picked up the shot, raised the glass, and downed the liquor.

Their bartender tittered. "What are you, a couple in the middle of a fight?"

The businessmen threw down a few bills to pay their tab before getting up from the bar. Empty space stretched between her and Jax again. He stared her way, holding her in place as her heart drummed and her cheeks warmed. All of her rushed with a warmth that made her blood race, and far out of her flirting element, Seven tore her eyes away but could tell he didn't stop looking at her.

Jax pushed off his barstool, and the sparkle of anticipation shivered across her skin. Was he leaving? Coming closer? Her breezy breaths seemed too shallow when he stopped short, allowing one barstool between them as he took a seat.

"Scared?" Because she was terrified. Her reaction to him made her almost light-headed, but she was drawn to him despite that fear.

"Man." Jax's head dropped with a chuckle, then he glanced over. "You don't stop, do you?"

"I should."

"Nah." He moved off the barstool and leaned against her back, resting his arms on the bar. Caging her. "Why screw up a good thing?"

He was a sheet of muscle, and he let his chin rest next to her ear as she watched in the mirrored wall.

"Nothing to say?" His scratchy chin burrowed next to her ear, and the dark-whiskered scruff grated her into heaven. "Seven, how much have you had to drink tonight?"

Suddenly, the tingles were gone. "Not much, why?"

Was he trying to get her drunk? Tacky! That didn't seem like his MO, but what did she know? Maybe he liked to get plastered and…

Jax pulled back and spun her around. "Hang on."

Her level of distrust should've been much higher. "Why?"

"Because I want to make bad decisions with you, and I want to make sure you're in a good place to agree."

"Meaning you don't want me drunk?"

He winked. "Not at all. What do you say?"

Still, she hesitated. "Why is it a bad decision?" Then she blushed as she waited for him to list a Kama Sutra on steroids or a policy of no strings attached means never talking again.

"Because I always know what I'm getting into, and anytime I'm around you, I don't know, and I don't care." Jax backed up and extended his hand.

She couldn't have slapped him if she'd wanted to. She wasn't a one-night stand kind of girl, and Jax had made it clear at the wedding that he was only a one-night stand kind of guy. Chemistry didn't care what either of them said, and Seven placed her hand in his.

"Why's your name Seven?" He helped her off the barstool and threw down some cash for their tabs.

"I was supposed to be lucky."

Jax grinned. "Lucky number Seven. I like it." He took her by the hand and walked them out. "Come on, beautiful. Get into trouble with me tonight."





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


With every passing step, Seven grew more confident in her decision to do bad things with the man running his thumb over her knuckles as they moved to the reception desk to the hotel lobby, room keys in hand, with minimal awkwardness.

Even after a night of dive bars and swank hotel bars, Jax smelled fresh and sexy, and she wanted to nuzzle her nose into his collar and breathe deeply. They waited for the elevator, and she decided her first bad decision of the night was to wrap herself around his rock-hard torso and pay a ridiculous amount of attention to his cut muscles.

The elevator dinged, and Jax walked them into the car with her still pressed against his chest, moving until her back met the wall and his cheek was next to hers. "You went from coy to not messing around at Mach speed."

"Do you want me to go to the other side of the elevator and keep my hands by my sides?"

He didn't answer but kept her pinned, only reaching away to press his floor number. Then his forehead touched hers, and he toyed with her hair.

When the elevator slowed, Jax slid both hands into her hair, gluing his eyes to hers. He ran his palms to the back of her skull and gave a careful tug that made her moan and shake.

Then his fingers softened. "Ready?"

She had no idea. "Absolutely."

Jax led them to his room then flicked the lights on. Whoa.

"Wow, Jax. This is… swank."

"It's what they had available." He tossed the keycard on the small table in the hallway, and they walked into a sunken living room. To one side was a kitchenette and dining area. To the other was a beautiful bedroom suite. It might've been the nicest hotel room she'd ever stayed in.

Suddenly, nerves bubbled. She didn't know what to do in this kind of place. She was an MC princess, but this was reserved for real royalty.

The life she led was simple—middle America, single mom, full-time job. And this was… a fairy tale.