Page 68 of Twisted Devotion

“I also wanted to see you, and Seth said you were here.”

Traitor.

I shake my arms out, curling and uncurling my fists. “Why did you want to see me?”

He steps closer. “I haven’t seen you in a week, Kelsey. After spending every day together for two months, let’s just say your absence was noted.”

A flush races across my chest; my cheeks are already pink from the workout but even they grow warmer. “You—”

“Missed you,” he offers.

“Oh,” I say, immediately feeling ridiculous. I could’ve done better than that. Perhaps I’m a little worried that if I allow myself to say more I’ll tell Jackson that I missed him, too.

He chuckles. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot, Red. Worried about what you’re doing.”

“I’m fine, Jax,” I assure him with a sigh.

“I know you can take care of yourself and I understand why you’re doing it, I just . . . the thought of you putting yourself in danger is making me crazy.”

My eyes go wide. “Jackson . . .”

His eyes meet mine. “Don’t give me that tone, Red. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. You know I care about you.”

Say it back, say it back, say it back.

I close my eyes, swallow hard, and take a leap. “I care about you, too.” When I open my eyes, Jackson is right there, close enough to reach out and touch. So that’s exactly what I do. Draping my arms over his shoulder, I step in until our noses brush. “Jax?”

He rests his forehead against mine, breathing deeply. “Hmm?”

My eyes flutter shut. “Kiss me.”

His fingers splay across my cheek as his mouth crashes into mine, sealing us together. Hearts beating together, the world closes in on this moment, and I know leaving this man is going to break both of us.

21

Ispend the rest of the weekend at Jackson’s. Mostly in his bed. Sometimes mine. Occasionally in the shower. Or the hot tub that I only just found out he had.

Needless to say, by the time Sunday night rolls around, I’m a fuzzy mix of satisfied and exhausted. I fall asleep quickly, nestled in Jackson’s arms, and have the distant desire to never leave this spot.

“I don’t want you to go,” Jackson says the next morning, his arm wrapped around my bare waist.

I sigh, turning my head on the pillow to look at him. “It’s the only thing they’re letting me do, Jax. I have to. I couldn’t protect Kyle from these bastards, but I sure as hell am going to help take them down.”

He glances down to where is thumb is tracing circles on my skin. “If something were to happen to you . . .”

My chest tightens. “Nothing is going to happen to me.” I wiggle free from his grasp and slide off the bed, walking across the room into the en-suite bathroom to turn on the shower.

Once I’m ready to go, Jackson walks me to the front door, where Skylar walks in. Her eyes flick between us and a faint, knowing smirk plays on her lips.

I stop in the doorway after Skylar walks around us into the house. “I’ll see you later,” I tell Jackson.

He nods, leaning down to kiss me slowly, making my lips tingle when he pulls away. “I’m counting on it, Red.”

I spend the day flipping through emails, random news articles, and social media apps. I sip on my vanilla latte and order a grilled cheese around lunchtime. I catch eyes with one of Jackson’s guards for a brief moment, but not long enough for any observers to notice. There’s been a different guard placed somewhere in the café each day I’ve been here, and knowing part of our team is here with me at all times calms my nerves.

Even if I wish it could be Jackson.

Not that I’d ever put him in that position, that danger, but I do miss him. I almost smile at how easily I can admit it.

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