Page 66 of The Last Second Chance
Fuck it, he decided. He pushed and stared dumbly down at Waffles who was now pawing at his legs.
“She left it open?”
Waffles wriggled in happiness as if he understood the significance of the unlocked door.
“Hey, buddy,” Jax said, scruffing up the dog’s fur. “Where’s your mom?” She wasn’t downstairs, he noted, though there was a fire in the hearth. Maybe she left the door open to an empty house as a slap in the face. He hadn’t considered that possibility.
The dog’s tail thumped against the floor and he looked up adoringly at Jax with one blue eye and one brown.
“You like it here, bud? You like your mom?”
Waffles’ tail swished against the hardwood.
“Yeah, I do, too. Let’s see if she’s around.” Jax took a cursory glance up the stairs, but the second floor was dark. However, the outside lights were on in the back. With the dog trailing him, Jax made his way through the living room to the French doors off the kitchen.
He could hear music faintly through the glass.
What the hell was she doing outside at night in the dead of winter? Was this some kind of trap?
He opened the door and, signaling Waffles to stay put, stepped outside. And into a fantasy.
His breath frozen in his throat. The music, low and bluesy, pulsed through outdoor speakers. Joey, her hair piled on top of her head, reclined in a cloud of steam that hovered above the claw foot tub she soaked in. She was bathed in a soft golden glow from the outdoor lights.
Under her spell, Jax moved in closer.
Joey turned her head against the lip of the tub. “Hi,” she said.
“The door was open.” Jax said stupidly.
Smooth move, idiot,he chastised himself.
“Was it now?” she asked with a ghost of a smile on her full, naked lips.
“Did you forget to lock it?” Still not believing it was true, Jax held his breath. All his mental preparations had dealt with a locked door.
She turned toward him, arms draped over the edge of the tub.
“There’s one thing I need you to be clear on,” she said, ignoring his question.
“What’s that?” Jax asked.
“I’m not looking for a relationship and I’m not interested in picking up where we left off.”
“What do you want?” His voice sounded like sandpaper.
She answered him without words. Bracing her hands on the tub, she rose. Water streamed off of her naked body and steam rose from her skin.
She’d been a fantasy in high school, all long limbs and soft, subtle curves. But now? Now, she was a goddess.
She was spectacular. Lithe muscle, smooth curves, her skin glowed in the moonlight. Every inch of her was perfection. Jax went instantly hard.
Aching with the need to touch her, he moved forward until he stood before her.
“Joey.”
“Hand me the towel, will you?” She said it lightly, still keeping that almost imperceptible distance between them.
His hand shook as he held out the white terrycloth, breath caught when their fingers brushed. It was then that he knew he wouldn’t survive this. Her fire would incinerate him and he didn’t care. Jax was willing to sacrifice himself. Every time he kissed her, he lost a piece of his soul. What did the rest of those pieces amount to?
