Page 49 of Save Me

“I was furious. That someone soinsignificant”—he spits the word as though it leaves a bad taste in his mouth—“would dare take someone that belongs to me, someone who is my entire world.”

Ryan nods as if remembering when I was taken, remembering how Jax responded, and my cheeks flush at his declaration, at his belief that I’m his entire world.

“And now that we know it’s Rhett.” I look between them both. “And after what Tanner did… what now?”

“They’re dead. It’s just a matter of time,” Ryan says with a casual violence in his words as he picks up his fork and continues to eat.

I learn more and more about Jax and Ryan, about the business they’ve helped build for the past ten years. The more I learn about them, the more I want to be a part of their lives in all areas, helping them and supporting them just like they’ve done for me.

“I want in,” I say quietly, but with an assertiveness that feels foreign to me.

Ryan looks shocked, but Jax… something like pride flickers across his face.

“And what exactly, love, do you want in on?” he purrs.

“This, your business, theestablishment.I want in on all of it. I want to help find Rhett and Tanner, I want to understand what it is you do, what you’redoingto make that happen, and I want something to do with my time. But mainly, mainly I want to say I had a part in bringing them down. And maybe that makes me a horrible person, but”—I take a breath—“but it’s what I want, what I need. So, yeah. I guess I’m asking for a job?”

Ryan looks to Jax, seemingly unsure of what his answer will be. But Jax only gives me an assessing look, a look that seems to see right through me and into my soul, before tilting his head. “Considered yourself hired, under two conditions…”

“And they are?”

“You start painting regularly again and you don’t stop trying to get your work into galleries.”

I mull over his words, before smiling. “Deal.”

“Welcome to the team, love,” Jax says with a smile, raising a glass in my direction before taking a sip.

We keep talking late into the night, even as I wash up the dishes, handing them to Ryan to dry, as Jax keeps answering all my questions without any hesitation, his eyes never leaving meas I learn about everything he does, and everything I will soon be a part of.

Our room is dark as we walk into it, the only light coming from the city lights in the distance. I walk over to the bed, sitting down on the lush bedding, watching Jax as he takes his shirt off, tossing it gently on the chair by the bookshelves.

“So, I’m your entire world?” I ask coyly.

He pauses what he’s doing, his eyes finding mine from across the room.

“Of course you are,” he responds as he holds my gaze captive.

“Then show me,” I purr, looking him up and down as I lay back on the bed. “Show me exactly what it means to be yours.”

And he does.

CHAPTER 22

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For once Ifell asleep easily and my dreams were just dreams, and not the nightmares that usually find me in my sleep. This dream in particular was a welcomed change, more like a memory, of Jax and Ibefore.I try to hold onto the image of me on top of him, as I slowly open my eyes, allowing them to adjust to the dark room. The sky outside is gray, as if the sunrise is struggling to take a hold of the sky.

I turn my attention to Jax, admiring the peace that finds him in his sleep, and the way his body looks laying next to me. I wonder how I got so lucky, what I did to deserve someone like him, and I think maybe that’s why I’m so afraid of this not working out, because at my lowest moments I truly feel undeserving of him; of his ability to meet my needs, of his unwavering patience and understanding, of his god-like body that knows exactly what spots will elicit the loudest moans from me. I reach for him, letting my hand run slowly over his broad frame, over the scars that decorate his skin and the tattoos that tell the story of his life. I let my fingers trace over his hardened muscles, until they’re following the V towards a part of him that I long for.

“When I die, love,”—I jump at the sound of his voice, still groggy with sleep—“make sure I end in a place where I wake up to this every morning.”

I smile, but my gaze doesn’t leave his body, doesn’t move from his considerable length that is now hardening from mytouch. I stroke him slowly, my hands moving over every velvety inch of him, my touch firm yet gentle. Watching him, feeling him, as he becomes more and more roused from my movements causes a fire to stir deep within me. He groans as I bring my lips to him, kissing and licking him, moving at a tantalizingly slow pace.

“Love,” he pleads, and I smile at how easily I can have him begging for more, how quickly he unravels undermytouch.

I lick him from the base to the tip, slowly, my eyes finding his, watching his every reaction. His breathing increases as I lick the most sensitive spots, as I swirl my tongue around his tip, before bringing him into my mouth. I love the taste of him, the arousal that’s already on him, as I move just how he likes it, my head bobbing up and down as I try to fit more and more of him in my mouth each time. Fitting him all in my mouth feels like an impossible task, the sheer size of him making me focus to accommodate him. But I don’t stop, not as he runs his hands through my hair, taking a hold of it, guiding me down further; not as he bucks his hips as my tongue works him up and down; not as he hits the back of my throat, and I swallow my gag, trying even harder to adjust to him.

“Good girl.” He moans, and his eyes close as if relishing the feeling of everything I’m doing. I keep going for another few seconds, keep going until I decide exactly what I want next. Exactly what I’m ready for.

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