Page 110 of The Jaded Notes

“You can’t possibly be playing stupid.” I poke him in the chest. “That’s not your nature.”

He steps back and places his hands on his hips. “Did you have a bad dream or something along those lines?”

“Jesus, Jax. Are you really going to play dumb?” I storm out of the en suite not quite sure who I’m more upset with.

I was reckless and he was just…

Fuck!He was just being a greedy man.

He comes up behind me. His hands hover over my shoulders, but disappear before he rests them on me. Smart of him. I could bite him right now, I'm so mad.

“Livianna, will you please sit on the bed and tell me why you’re about to kill the next person you see, namely me.” His voice has a silly ring to it, like this is somehow funny.

I spin around with heat burning my face. “Okay, that’s enough. You don’t get to mock me. If you would use your brain this morning instead of your…man parts, you’ll know exactly why I’m about to lose my shit.”

His gaze dials in on me, and then something clicks in his eyes. A second passes, and he laughs. Like he releases some deep belly laugh.

Oh, the nerve of this guy.

I want to slap him to get him to realize what’s going on, but for some reason I find myself giggling along with him. It’s just that I love when he’s relaxed and playful.

He takes me in his arms. “Hey, firecracker, if you think I’m so unaware that I don’t know your cycles, then you don’t know me very well.”

“What?” I wiggle free from him. “You track my periods? I don’t even do that.”

He sits on the edge of the bed and shrugs. His shoulders drop, and his smile fades. He looks like a toddler who just got a scolding.

I inch toward him until I’m standing right before him. “Why on earth would you do something like that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? We’re in a relationship, and that’s probably something I should take note of, considering…”

I growl, but it’s harmless. Of course, Jaxon Crowne would track my menstrual cycles. This is a man who’s in control of everything. I should’ve known.

He takes my hand in his. “Why does this bother you so much?”

The past slams into me. I can’t tell him about my miscarriage. Not now. It would ruin the amazing weekend we’re having. I bite my lip and glance away.

He stands, cups my chin in his palm, and finds my gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“Unprotected sex just feels…too intense.”

Yeah, that should hold him off from pushing me for more.

His eyes scan my face. “Are you sure that’s what this is about?”

I step away to escape his observant stare. “Not using condoms seems dangerous. I don’t want to get pregnant. Not when I’m rebranding and launching Lehlani Rose Designs.”

“Whoa, wait. I’m not trying to get you pregnant. That’s not what last night was about. I don’t have a breeding kink.”

I face him, taken aback for some unknown reason. “Then why take the chance?”

“You’re due to get your period any day now. I was just taking advantage of the situation.” He runs his hands over my shoulders. “I wanted to feel all of you. I wanted us to join together completely.”

“Oh.” I turn away, ignoring the warmth in his words, and fall back onto the bed. “Is that why I feel like murdering someone? I’m PMSing?”

“It’s a distinct possibility.” He slips up next to me. “I didn’t mean to overstep any of your boundaries. I just thought…”

“It’s fine, Jax. At least one of us is responsible.”