Page 165 of Risky Passion

He dropped the bag and caught me, pulling me into his chest like he never thought we’d be together again. His arms wrapped around me, solid and warm, and I melted into him.

“Wow, Tory, you look beautiful.”

Butterflies pirouetted in my stomach. “You say all the right things.” I cupped his face in my hands and crushed my lips to his like a horny desperado.

He returned my kiss like he needed me. Like heownedme. And every stupid thought in my head vanished.

His hands gripped my waist, and as his lips moved against mine, and as our breaths mingled, the world fell away, leaving just the two of us.

When we finally pulled back, I was a grinning idiot, and I didn’t care. “Miss me?” I teased, a little breathless.

“Every damn day,” he said, reaching for my hand.

Wow.

Our fingers laced together as naturally as if we’d been doing it forever. He grabbed his bag with his free hand, and we strolled toward the schoolhouse together as an actual couple.

As we walked down the hallway toward the kitchen and open living area, Yasmin appeared from the other hallway, and her face lit up when she saw Jaxson.

“Finally!” she cried, pulling him into a hug.

He dropped his bag at his feet to wrap his arms around her.

“It’s about time you got here,” she said. “Tory’s been pacing the floors like a madwoman.”

“Have not,” I muttered, though the grin on my face gave me away.

Cobra came up the hallway with his metal prosthetic clicking against the floorboards. “Good to see you, man,” he said, shaking Jaxson’s hand. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” Jaxson said. “And thanks for putting us up for the weekend.”

“You two are welcome anytime. You know that,” Cobra replied.

“We’ve got you in the same room as last time,” Yasmin said, gesturing down the hall. “Hope that works for you.”

“Perfect,” Jaxson replied, glancing at me with a small smile.

“Make yourselves at home,” Yasmin added, sweeping her hand to the living area. “I need to sort out a few things with my brother before we head to the wedding.”

“And I’m knee-deep in Maya’s playlist.” Cobra released a dramatic sigh. “She’s picked so many songs, I’m starting to wonder if she thinks I’m an actual DJ.”

We laughed.

“It’s all good, guys. We’ll just chill for a bit,” I said, smirking up at Jaxson. “Don’t worry about us.”

This worked out perfectly for me. Finally some alone time with my hunk.

“Cool. Help yourselves to anything in the fridge,” Cobra added, clapping a hand on Jaxson’s shoulder. Then his expression shifted, just enough to make my stomach tighten. “You must need a break. I heard you’ve been through a fucking inquisition over Beatrice’s suicide.”

“You could say that.” Jaxson’s shoulders sagged, and his hand slipped from mine.

My chest ached for him. We'd talked about it so many times, reviewing every detail and every moment, and yet we always came back to the same stupid question: why hadn't any of us thought to check her pockets?

It wasn’t his guilt to carry alone. Nine of us had been there when Beatrice killed herself. Which, ironically, was our saving grace. Every one of us could corroborate the story.

As Yasmin and Cobra disappeared down the hall, Jaxson picked up his bag and turned to me with a soft smile. “Same room as last time,” he said.

I smirked, stepping closer. “Ah, the memories.”

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