Page 76 of Twisted Devotion

“Are you going to come in or just continue standing there gawking at me as if I’m a piece of meat?” he asks.

I grin, pushing away from the doorframe to approach him. “You clean up nice, Hawthorne.”

He bends and kisses me softly. “Thanks, Red. You get a dress?”

“You won’t be able to keep your eyes off me.”

He sucks in a breath. “I have no doubt about that.”

I wrap my arms around his midsection and lean into him. “I should go get ready.”

He peers down at me. “Yes, you should. I’ll be waiting with baited breath.”

I laugh. “Don’t hurt yourself. I’ll need you later tonight,” I say with a wink as I retreat and head back across the hall to my room.

Two hours. Two freaking hours it takes me to get ready. From showering to drying and curling my hair, applying makeup, and putting on my dress and jewelry. I couldn’t imagine doing this more than once a year.

I slip my feet into my heels and grab my clutch off the dresser, dropping my phone and lipstick inside before snapping the clasp shut.

Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror above the vanity, I sigh at my reflection. Behind the makeup and hair product and fancy dress, I still feel a pang of sorrow for what I’ve lost.

Tonight, we will celebrate many accomplishments.

But later this week, I will bury my foster brother.

That sadness looms over my heart. The opportunity to have a part of my human life carry into my future is now gone. With time, the pain will fade; though it will never go away completely. I’ll adjust to living with it, just as I’ve done with everything else I’ve had to endure. Kyle wouldn’t want me to be sad forever, and I won’t.

With a deep breath, I walk to the doorway and turn the light off before walking out of the bedroom.

At the top of the stairs, I pause. “All right, Jax, I—”

My words cut off when I see him standing at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer, staring at me with a look of adoration. So much so, my legs wobble a bit as I descend the first few stairs. I grab the railing and manage to make it the rest of the way down.

Jackson offers me his arm, still unable to keep his eyes off me—as promised. “You look absolutely stunning.” He leans in to kiss my cheek, but I turn my face at the last moment so our lips collide in a soft, sweet kiss.

“Thank you,” I murmur when he pulls back.

“There’s something I want to ask you,” he says, his eyes staring intently into mine.

“Okay,” I say. “So ask.”

“It’s important.” He cups my cheeks, tilting my head back so our gazes are level. “I want you to stay. Here. With me. Don’t leave Rockdale, Kelsey.”

My heart gives a painful squeeze and my mouth goes dry. “I . . . what?”

“I don’t want to lose you. I care about you too damn much. I thought I could let you go because that’s what you want, but I can’t. That makes me a selfish man, but I don’t care. I need you in my life, Red. So please, don’t leave.”

Tears prick my eyes. “Oh, Jackson.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’ve been thinking about it all day and I want to stay. I mean, I want to be able to, but I just . . . I don’t think I can.” Even if I could get past everything that’s driving me away, I’m not sure what I would do. I wouldn’t be Jax’s guard anymore, and returning to the gym to train fae would only be a step back. I need to move forward with my life.

He frowns. “Of course. I’ve been thinking about it, too. I understand why you can’t stay here, and I won’t ask again. I respect your answer and reasoning. But I will ask you this. Let me come with you. Wherever you go. I don’t want you to walk away from me, and I don’t think you want that, either.”

My eyes go wide. I don’t want to leave him, but—

“What are you talking about, Jax? You can’t leave. You run a business here, your friends are here—your family,” I say.

He chuckles. “I think Nikolai can get by without me for a while.”

I shake my head. “This is crazy. Who would even run the facility?”

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