Page 68 of The Jaded Notes

Then there’s a spark. Barely, but I see it. The flicker ofrestraint gives way to something raw. Something dangerous in a different way.

“I don’t want to break you anymore, Livianna.” His voice drops, strong and gentle, twisted into a confession. “I want to be the one who puts you back together.”

God, I want to believe him. I want to fall into that promise like it’s the only thing that’s ever felt safe.

“Then show me,” I whisper. “Just don’t make me regret being this vulnerable with you.”

“You have my word.” He moves closer.

“That means I can’t have the version of you with rules I don’t get and silences that make me feel like I’m failing. I need this to be different. I need to learn to trust you with this part of myself…and I can’t do that if I feel like I’m being tested.”

“Done.” Both his hands find my hips, the heat of them seeping through the fabric with quiet certainty. His thumbs sweep along the dip of my waist, not with greed but with reverence.

“Then how does this work?”

“I’ll guide you.” He stares into my eyes. “But you’ll always have the power to stop it. Tonight, there will be no punishments or rules. Just trust.”

My heart lurches. “That’s exactly what I want.”

He leans in, his mouth finding mine. It’s not a claiming kiss or a rush of possession. It’s something more, and with it is a slowness that disarms me completely.

He’s listening to me and workingwithme, not against me. And that’s its own kind of magic.

His tongue parts my lips with care. He tastes, not takes. And when he kisses me deeper, I feel the shift.

He’s not holding back his dominance. He’s repurposing it, molding it to wrap around my damage instead of piercing it and making me pay for it.

His hand cradles the back of my head, fingers weaving in my hair just tight enough to hold me still. I melt against him,knees softening, breath catching, and pulse racing. Our chemistry is off the charts.

He pulls away. There’s no warning, no asking when he lifts me.

I gasp, but it’s not in fear. I’m coming undone with anticipation and a respect I didn’t expect to have. The spark between us is foreplay all on its own. My insides are on fire, and we’ve only just begun.

He carries me through the penthouse without fumbling. Every step measured and every turn instinctive.

He’s in a rush to make this happen, like he already knows exactly what it’s going to be like. It’s as if his body memorized mine before he ever touched it.

And maybe it did. God knows I’ve stared at his long enough to know every tight, muscular curve.

When we reach his bedroom, he sets me down on a bed made up of graphite-colored linens, accented in shimmering silver trim. The window is open, and the light gray sheers billow gently in the breeze, carrying the low hum of the city below.

He stands before me, his silhouette framed by moonlight, his gaze locked on mine. There’s a mix of nervousness and excitement in his eyes, and it sends chill bumps over my skin.

He moves closer, his voice a rough, hoarse whisper. “You’re breathtaking, Livianna.”

His words make my heart skip a beat.

“So are you, Jax.”

He reaches out, his fingers gently tracing the line of my jaw. I shudder under his touch.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all night.” He leans in to capture my mouth in a tender kiss.

I press into him and wrap my arms around his neck, my tongue exploring his with a hunger that matches his own.

The curtains rustle behind me from the wind picking up.Cool air skims over my body. It’s a stark contrast to the heat building between us.

He pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine as he catches his breath.