Standing up, I outstretch my hand to her. She hesitantly places her hand in mine, and I pull her upright, bringing her close to me. A shocked gasp escapes her full lips as she looks up at me in surprise.
"Thank you for telling me the truth," I tell her.
She opens her mouth to speak, but now is not the time for words. I want to show her how incredible I think she is and how grateful I am that she let me into her world.
My fingertips weave into her hair as I draw her closer to me, crushing my lips to hers. She's tense at first, but soon she's kissing me back with just as much fervor.
Her secrets bind us. And I know in that moment that it's going to be very hard for me to ever let her go.
CHAPTER 24
KATYA
HIS KISS IS demanding and all-consuming, and it takes my breath away. I feel like I'm floating up into the night sky as he grips the back of my head harder and draws me even closer. I willingly crush my body against him, wanting to be as close as possible to this man.
I told him my secrets. He didn't even have to pry them out of me. I gave them willingly. And that says a lot about how I feel about him. In some weird, messed up way, I've grown fond of Jackson. I never thought I could evenlikea man, given my past, but Jackson has inched his way inside of me. And I don't think I'm going to get rid of him any time soon.
I moan into his mouth, and he swallows it down. He takes full of advantage of my lips parting and delves his tongue into my mouth, completely possessing every inch of me.
And I love it.
I feel safe and warm in his arms. It's a sanctuary I never want to leave, but I know deep down it's only temporary.
Pulling back from him, we're both left panting and wanting.
"You kiss like our plane is going down and the world is on fire," I tell him honestly, trying to catch my breath.
"You say that like it's a bad thing," he says with a smirk.
Laughing, I playfully slap him in the chest. He slowly releases me, and I feel unsteady on my feet. He literally made me weak in the knees, and I never thought I would ever experience that. There's just something about Jax that makes me forget all the bad things when I'm with him. And that is a remarkable thing.
Taking a few steps backwards, I ask him, "If I run, would you chase me?"
"Yes," he answers with no hesitation, and I can see his pupils dilate.
Jackson is clearly intrigued. He's turned on by the prospect of chasing me down, just like he was when we first met.
And I can't help but confess…I am as well.
I'm upping this game between us a notch, but I don't think that he'll mind one bit. He enjoyed chasing me in the streets of Sicily. I remember how hard he was when he pinned me to the ground. There was no hesitation, no fear in his eyes then. He wasn't second-guessing things.
I slowly back away from him. "What will you do to me if you catch me, Jax?" I ask sultrily.
His eyes narrow as he takes a few steps forward, matching my pace. "You meanwhenI catch you," he corrects me.
"When?" I ask innocently, continuing to backtrack, my footsteps growing quicker. I'm almost to the beach now.
"When I catch you…I'll make you wish you hadn't run from me in the first place," Jax threatens, his voice coming out rough.
He thinks his threat will turn me off, make me not want to run. But he couldn't be more wrong. It turns me the hell on…more than I want to admit.
"Catch me then," I whisper before I turn and tear off, running as fast as my legs will carry me. The sand is sharp against the soles of my tender feet, but I keep going, not willing to stop now that we've started this cat and mouse game.
I can hear his heavy footsteps right behind me. He's gaining on me, but I pump my legs faster and faster.
I can see the end of the beach nearing and the grassy lawn beyond right before the tarmac that houses planes and other methods of escape. Even though I don't have the skills I need to fly away and doubt that they just leave the keys to the vehicles in them for anyone to find…I still make that my destination.
Perhaps I'm trying to prove a point to Jackson. That he doesn't control me. And that he'll lose me eventually no matter how much he wants to keep me here. Because we both know that this thing between us isn't permanent. Ultimately, I'll leave and go to find my sister.
