Page 36 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
I lay down beside her and she rolls on her side to look at me. Her eyes are glazed over and I’m not sure if it’s because of the drugs or her head injury. She reaches over and tenderly lays her hand on the side of my face, “I’ve really missed you Jaxson.”
My chest tightens painfully at the sadness in her voice. I grab her hand off my face and bring it to my mouth giving her a gentle kiss, “Me too baby,” is all I can manage to get out. She moves in close and lays her head on my chest. Julia is the only woman I have ever held. It’s a foreign concept to me, but it feels natural and so goddamn good with her. Her sweet scent envelopes me and I try really hard not to think about what she’s wearing, or rather not wearing, under the blankets. I trail my fingers up and down her bare arm and within seconds she’s asleep again. I set my watch and follow along with her, feeling the most peace I have since the night I was buried deep inside her.
I wake up enveloped in the most amazing warmth, “Mmmmm,” I moan cocooning myself in the heat.
All of a sudden I hear a growl… “Stay the fuck still!” a big hand grabs my hip stilling my movement.
I stiffen, my heart in my throat, while memories from last night replay in my mind. Oh god… Jaxson.
The mattress dips as he flies off the bed. “Shit,” he yells before he goes into the bathroom and slams the door.
What the heck just happened? And why was he in my bed? I try to remember anything after the hospital but can’t. I look under the blankets and see I’m only in my bra and underwear. Oh sweet Jesus! Please don’t tell me I tried to seduce him? I groan in embarrassment when I remember him stilling my movement while I tried to rub myself all over him. I’m no better than that two-bit whore Melissa. Great! Way to stay mad at him Julia, he’s really going to be sorry now.
I get pulled out of my self-torment when I hear the bathroom door open. I sit up quickly, wincing from my bruised ribs, and pull the blankets up under my arms to cover myself as much as possible. Jaxson comes out and stands right in front of me leaning against the wall. I can feel him staring at me but I’m too embarrassed to look at him.
I take a deep breath, “Look Jaxson, I’m really sorry. I was out of it last night, I know it’s no excuse, but I don’t remember it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” he asks confused.
I groan, of course he has to make me say it. “I’m sorry for… trying to have sex with you alright!” My face goes furiously red from embarrassment. When he doesn’t say anything I look up at him and see him watching me in amusement.
“Let me get this straight. You wake up half naked with me in your bed. You don’t remember shit and you think it was you who seduced me?”
“Well, why else am I half naked?”
“Because I took your dress off while you were sleeping,” he says as if I’m an idiot.
“Why did you do that?”
“Would you have rather slept in it?”
I think about this for a second… “Wait, so I didn’t try to have sex with you?” I ask in confusion… oh please let that be the truth.
“If you had tried to have sex with me Julia, you would still be feeling me inside of you.”
My heart skips a beat at his husky voice and I hate myself for the throbbing that starts between my legs from his arrogance. I glare at him, trying to hide the effect.
“You passed out before we even got in the truck. I brought you up here and Kayla left before I figured I would need help getting you out of your clothes. I stayed on the floor but then halfway through the night you asked me to lay with you, so I did,” he explains all too happily.
I’m annoyed at his amusement, “I’m glad you’re finding this so funny.”
“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t think right away that I’m the one who tried something?”
“It never crossed my mind, I know you would never take advantage of me.”
The smirk vanishes from his face and he shakes his head sadly.
“What?” I mumble feeling uncomfortable.
“Nothing,” then he changes the subject, “How’s your head?”
I clear my throat, “Not too bad, it’s my ribs that are hurting terribly today.”
“We probably should change the dressing and put more of that ointment on it. Do you want to have a shower first?”
I get uncomfortable thinking about him doing it. Before I can say anything I remember Gram’s brunch today. “Shit! What time is it?” I ask in a panic.
“Nine.”
“Crap! I have to hurry, I need to be at the senior home for Gram’s brunch in an hour.”
“Julia, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You should stay and rest.”
“Jaxson, it’s her birthday, I’m not missing it, I’ll be fine.” I throw the blankets off me then shriek, quickly pulling them back up, remembering I’m in my underwear. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” he says, making no effort to leave.
I point at the door, “Out!”
“It’s nothing that I haven’t seen before Julia.”
We stare at each other silently, tension filling the room as we both remember that night. I look away, breaking eye contact first.
“Ya well, that was a long time ago, things change,” we both know I’m not talking about my body anymore.
“Not everything changes Julia.”
I really don’t want to have this conversation right now, so I ignore his comment and change the subject. “I need to get in the shower so… “ again I wave at the door.
“You need to cover your bandage before you shower remember?”
Nope I don’t remember, but I don’t let him know that.
“Where’s your saran wrap?”
“In the pantry.”
As soon as he walks out the door I jump up, then wince again from my stupid ribs. I walk quickly to my closet and get my robe on just before he walks back in.
