Page 53 of Find Me

Jax kneels beside me, concern behind his eyes.

“How are you feeling, love? Ryan mentioned you’re a little off.”

My gaze darts to Ryan, who gives an apologetic shrug.

“I’m feeling okay, a little nauseous and shaky, and hot. I feel really hot, but I’ll survive.” I don’t mention what I’m thinking, focusing only on what I’m feeling physically.

Jax nods and it’s only when he starts to stand up that I notice a streak of blood smeared across his neck.

“What the fuck Jax, are you okay?” I look pointedly at him, as panic surges within me.

He looks at me in confusion before noticing what I’m looking at, bringing a hand to the side of his neck.

Blood sticks to his fingertips as he pulls them away from his neck. “I must have missed it when I was cleaning off afterwards, but not to worry, love, it’s not mine.”

“You didn’t…” I couldn’t say the words out loud, worried about the answer I might be met with “Is he still—”

“Alive?” Jax cuts in. “Yes, love, I gave you my word. He is alive and free to go crawl back to whatever hole he crawled out of. He’s probably seen better days, but he’ll be fine. As of now, your debt to him is paid and he has a very clear idea of what will happen to him if he ever sets foot near you again.”

Relief sweeps over me at the knowledge that Rhett is alive, and I’m not responsible for his death. I almost find it too good to be true, that Jax managed to keep his word while still ensuring that Rhett will not bother me again.

I nod in acknowledgement as my mind starts to race, and I can’t help but feel touched as I think about the lengths Jax has gone to in order to keep me safe.

“Thank you,” I say, hoping he knows just how appreciative I am.

“You never need to thank me, especially for something I got a lot of enjoyment out of.”

“Okay, Mr. Morally Gray.” I shoot back, rolling my eyes teasingly.

Ryan snorts from his side of the couch before catching Jax glaring at him.

“Well, that’s my cue to leave.” He stands up and makes his way towards the front door where he puts his shoes back on. “Let me know if you guys need anything… though I have a feeling I won’t hear much from either of you until tomorrow morning.” He adds an unnecessary wink as he lets himself out, and I smile as the door closes shut with a heavy thud.

“I like him,” I tell Jax honestly.

“I can see that,” he replies with a wry smile. “He’s easy to like.”

“I don’t know what I was expecting your right-hand man to be like, but it’s not this.”

Jax doesn’t say anything as he looks at me for a moment.

“Well, love, while I would hate for Ryan to be wrong about how we spend the next few hours, I think we should get you in the shower and into bed,” he says quietly before holding his hand out to me.

I take it, immediately feeling secure as his hand tightens around mine, following him as he guides me upstairs to the bathroom.

He turns the shower on, and as the mirror becomes clouded with fog, he lifts me onto the counter.

“Lift your arms up,” he demands, lifting my sweater over my head.

His lips meet mine as he drops the sweater onto the floor, pressing his body against me. The heat from his chest meeting mine is intense, and my breath quickens.

I instinctively hook my legs around his waist, wanting him to be as close to me as possible.

“Easy, love,” he says thickly, a grin on his face. “You need to get some rest.”

“I think I need you,” I counter, wanting—needing—a distraction from everything around me. “Come on Jax, give me something to help me feel better,” I say playfully, pushing down everything that threatens to overwhelm me. The look he gives me in return is nothing short of primal.

The visibility in the room diminishes as the steam thickens, our bodies quickly becoming wet from the moisture in the air. Jax reaches for me, gently taking the elastic out my hair, and letting my waves fall free.

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