“What if you getbored?”I ask, a little too breathless.
The last thing I want is to become utterly enthralled, only for him to move on to his next obsession.
Who am I kidding? I’m already there.
“I won’t getbored.”He weaves his fingers throughmine and bringsthem to his heart.
“How do you know?”I nuzzle his hair. He definitely didn’t use myshampoo. The scent is purely him—coconut and citrus, reminiscent of summer and sunshine.
“Sometimes, I have thesevoicesin my head—not realvoices,”he clarifies when I go still.“Obsessive thoughts, I guess. For a while, one of them has been chanting,Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan, Ethan,” he says like a rapid heartbeat. “I hear Aurora’s name, but it’s,Auuuroooraaaa,”he singsongs.“It’s dreamy, sleepy sex. It’s a lazy, sunny day at the beach, surfing and catching waves. She’s the light I can’t live without. But you…”He sighs softly and squeezes my fingers.“You’re the craving in the dark. You’re cocaine in my veins, a compulsion driving me mad. I have to have it. I want to know everything. Ifear I’llloseyou. I want to breathe you in until you’re a part of me and can’t escape. You’ll never go away; I won’t let you.”
It's the mostJacksonanswer I’ve ever heard, and even though he’s completely fucking insane, I grin.“Only you could make falling in love sound like a stalker kidnapping his victim and have it be totally desirable.”
Chapter 4
Reece
Ipeel the bandage from my skin, cursing when the tape rips out my chest hair. “Motherfucker.”
“That’s it, Viking. I’m coming in!” Aurora yells from outside the bathroom door.
“Don’t you dare.”
Two weeks have passed since I was shot, and they’ve been painful—agonizing.
I left the hospital a week ago and have been recuperating at Ethan’s apartment with Aurora. She was reluctant to leave when the guys went away for a few games. They weren’t happy, but they agreed to let her stay with the twins and Charlie here.
It’s been a whirlwind. In a combined effort with the FBI, HSI, and ATF, twenty-three properties were raided in what the news is calling Black Friday, in reference to our SWAT-style approach and uniforms. I don’t have all the details—I suspect that’s intentional—but the evidence has resulted in over fifty arrests, primarily for sex crimes.
Jax had a few peaceful days before the media storm hit. Luckily for him, his father was never charged with anything. There’s only intense speculation, given the LAPD’s corruption,our presence at Kyle’s home, and that Hugo, Kyle’s ex-partner, is now the center of the investigation—even dead.
Hugo’s gruesome death didn’t seem to faze Jackson. He only requested we not disclose details of the case, or his abuse, to Aurora.
Distracting her isn’t difficult, since she insists on giving me all her attention. And it’s not only her. Charlie had the nerve to call my sisters when I went into surgery, and now they won’t quit texting. Then, there’s the nurse Jax hired for no reason, and let’s not forget Ethan, who checks in ten times a day.
I hate being fussed over. I can’t stand it. I’m no good at accepting help. I’d rather suffer in silence than be pampered.
Which is why I’m locked in the guest bathroom, struggling to change my own bandages.
I reach over my shoulder and tug on the gauze affixed to my skin. The door handle rattles, and I shake my head at Aurora’s persistence.
A strip of tape comes loose, and I yank at it, wincing as it catches my wound. “Fuck.” I drop my arm to my side, already exhausted.
The door pops open, and she grins triumphantly.
I glare at her in the mirror. “How the hell did you get in?”
She holds up a bent credit card. “You learn a few tricks when you grow up in the Valley.”
“You did not learn to shimmy locks growing up. I doubt you even left your house.”
“Okay, it’s from losing my key when I lived with Emily. I wasn’t on the lease, so…” She glances at the incision on my upper arm and grimaces. “It’s looking better,” she lies and steps forward. “Let me help you with the rest.”
I turn away from her. “The nurse will help me.” It’s not true. The nurse left my stubborn ass after I refused all treatment.
She cocks her head. “Seriously, Reece? Are you intentionally provoking my jealousy?”
I smirk, but it’s half-hearted. “Tinker Bell, you can go, okay? I’m taking a shower once I remove these damn bandages.”
