On the short stem of the rose is a ring. A beautiful engagement ring with a large round center stone and a smaller teardrop on each side. It’s simple and elegant. It’s what I would have picked out for myself.
My hand is trembling as I reach for it. I pull the ring off the stem and smell the rose before I set it down on the bed next to me. The white gold of the band is thin, and I slide it on my finger to see if it fits. It’s perfect.
Emotions swirl in my chest and my eyes sting as I turn my hand one way and then the other. Even in the low light, the diamonds are sparkling.
“You’ll have to let me know if you want a bigger stone. I wasn’t sure if it was something you would wear while working or not.”
Jax’s voice behind me nearly sends me through the roof with a start and I twist around to face him, my hand on my chest. He’s fully dressed in his usual black fatigue pants and t-shirt, lounging on his side next to me, on top of the covers. His arm is crooked on the pillow and his head is resting on his hand.
He’s smirking. “You like it?”
I launch myself at him, and he falls onto his back as I crash my lips to his. “I love it.” As I’m kissing him, I crawl up his front on my knees and straddle his torso, my hands on his face.
“I missed you.” I breathe into his mouth. In the one second of time it took for me to realize he was in the room with me,my body lit up like a sparkler and I can’t get close enough to him.
His arms are locked around me, his kisses soft but demanding. “I couldn’t wait to get back to you.”
Lifting my head, I look down at him. “You didn’t text me.”
With a small sigh, his eyes volley between mine. “I know. I’m sorry. It was more difficult than we originally thought. Mason and I wanted to push through so we could get back. But that limited our down time.”
I shrug a shoulder in mock disappointment and roll my eyes. “Fine. Since you were trying to get back faster, I can forgive you.”
All humor falls from his face, and his eyebrows dip, making my heart rate increase. He looks mad. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?”
I think he’s playing, and I lift my head away even more, giving him my own sharp look. “I did.”
In one quick move, he rolls me over and is pinning me to the bed. His hands loosely hold my wrists over my head and his body is heavy on me. He drags his nose along my jaw until his lips are next to my ear. “You’re going to pay for that.”
His breath is hot from the whisper, and a shiver slides up my spine. Soft, warm lips suck against my skin in hot little kisses down the side of my neck. He lifts his head and softly kisses my lips. “Don’t move your hands.” He presses his hips into me, his hardness puts pressure directly on the area that has already started to ache for his attention.
My breaths are coming quicker and I nod my head.
Sliding his knees up behind my legs, he sits up on his heels and looks at what I’m wearing. “I like to see you in my clothes. It’s sexy as fuck.” His eyes flick up to mine. “You trust me?”
Anticipation shoots through my chest, sending a wave of excitement over my skin and goose pimples over my arms. I nod my head again.
“Words, lepa.”
“I trust you.” I trust him with my life.
Grasping the hem of the shirt I’m wearing, he walks it up my stomach. “Arch your back.” He pats my hip with his fingertips, his voice husky.
I do and he pushes the material up my body and leans over me to cover my eyes and then somehow loops the fabric around my head and wrists to bind my hands. Cool air moves over my torso and my already hard nipples become hard enough to cut glass.
“If you want me to stop, I will stop.” His beard is scratchy against my cheek as he says it, and his big, rough hands slide down my arms, tickling the underside.
I’m practically panting from excitement, arousal, and a little bit of fear of the unknown. “Don’t stop.”
“Good girl.”
I’m pretty sure a gush of warmth just moved between my legs.
Scratchy calluses on his palms move over my skin and his hands wrap around my ribs as his lips zig-zag down my chest and latch onto a nipple. My skin pimples all over my chest and stomach while he nips my skin and then licks and kisses.
“This body is gorgeous, you have no idea what you do to me.” He mumbles as he moves down to my stomach, his hands glide over my skin to the waistband of his sweats.
The warmth of his tongue and his hot breath, combined with the cool air, sends a shiver up my spine. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life worshipping this body.” He murmurs against my skin as he flips the waistband down, his lips finding my hips.
