Cadence (Ruby Riot Book 1) (28 page)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

TEGAN

Jax stays at the hospital with me for a couple of hours while I sleep, before disappearing to check into a hotel. I’m discharged but not before Bryn gives the doctor a grilling over whether I’m all right. Once Bryn drops me at his place, I text Jax to let him know I’m there and resting.

I wake late morning and shower, eager to see Jax again. Last night, I was a mess of emotions from the attack, and later Jax’s words. Although I’m calmer now, I’m still wired from his admission. My heart flutters as I picture the way Jax looked at me, how he travelled hours to see me. Scott never looked at me the way Jax does. Anybody can say the words, but I believe in the saying that ‘eyes are the window to the soul.’ Apart from Jax’s, which are a window to his heart.

Jax arrives at Bryn’s as I’m watching TV and when I answer the door, he takes a tentative step inside.

I laugh at his concerned look. “Bryn isn’t here. Besides, he’s okay with you now. You know that.”

“Hmm.” Jax shoves his hands in his pockets and glances around. “Nice place.”

Bryn isn’t ostentatious. His huge apartment is half-empty, but what Bryn’s saved on expensive furniture, he’s spent on a top of the range sound system and the latest TV; the one I was terrified to touch earlier in case I broke it.

Everything is tidy. My slob of a brother now has the cleaning service to take care of that part of his life. A couple of pairs of women’s shoes rest in a corner, those and the lingering smell of Avery’s perfume reminds me she’s around some days. Not today.

Avery stays at Bryn’s occasionally, but she isn’t a fixture yet. He told me they only reunited a few weeks ago and Avery is cautious. When and if she does move in, I’ll need to leave. No way do I want to be in the midst of their re-forged, nauseatingly cute relationship. At least Bryn’s mood has improved since Avery came back into his life.

“Did you come to tour Bryn’s apartment or see me?” I ask with a mock pout.

A slow smile edges across Jax’s face as he steps closer. The smile drops as he looks at my forehead. “First, how are you feeling?”

“Fine. Honestly. No headache.”

“Right.” He brushes my hair from my face and pulls me in for a kiss.

This kiss is the one I wanted last night, a raw passion with intensity crashing into my body as his mouth slams against mine. I rake my fingers into Jax’s hair and hold his head, sinking against him as he drags my hips into his. This is the kiss we needed to share last night. The one to cement our emotional with our physical connection.

The ache for Jax I had when I saw him in the room last night explodes into need. A week since our skin has touched, since his mouth explored my body and fingers caressed my skin, and there’s no chance of self-control.

I pull at Jax’s clothes, pushing my hands beneath his shirt and digging my fingers into his back. Jax groans into my mouth as he grabs my ass and pulls me closer.

“Not here,” he says hoarsely. “Bryn could –”

Itching to drag his clothes off, but gripping onto rational thought, I pull him by the hand to the back of the apartment and into my room. Bryn walking into his home with Jax and me half-naked wouldn’t be a good moment. The bedroom door slams closed behind Jax, and I push myself against him until he hits the door.

“Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he says, teeth closing over my earlobe. I shudder at the sensation and step back, yanking my t-shirt over my head. My breasts swell against the lace bra, heavy with arousal. Jax drags his shirt off too, eyes on mine, and the moment he reveals his skin, I’m pressed against him again, desperate to feel the warm strength from my memories.

“Missed you, too.” I seize his head for another toe-curling kiss. “Don’t talk.”

I strip the rest of my clothes off, desperate to be naked with this man as soon as possible. With a laugh, Jax does the same. “I guess you did,” he says and closes his mouth over my nipple.

I suck in a breath as he holds me to him, running his tongue against the peaked nipple. The ache between my legs grows. No way can I wait for him to leisurely explore me.

If he dares to tease me, he’s in trouble.

“Bed,” I whisper and grab his wrist.

Jax stumbles on my discarded clothes as I tug him onto the bed, wrapping my legs around his as I fall backward into the soft sheets. Jax slides a hand between my legs and swears under his breath when he touches my wet heat. I shift against him, pressing against his palm and he slowly pushes a finger inside. Closing my eyes, I lose myself in the place I’ve longed to go for days.

Jax returns to exploring my breasts, dragging his tongue from the edge of the soft mounds, circling my nipple. I move in response to the way his attention pulls my insides tight as his fingers tease, stroking my swollen clit.

Warm, heavy breath brushes my face and I open my eyes to meet Jax’s, dark with lust. “I’ve missed fucking your hot, wet pussy,” he growls

“I’ve missed your hard cock,” I whisper back against his ear, enjoying his sharp intake of breath. “I need you. Now.”

Our mouths meet in another rough kiss, his lips bruising mine; he tastes of mint, and of memories of mind-melting sex. Jax slides his cock against my slick heat, and the aching becomes unbearable. I need him to fill me, stretch me, take me back to the place only he can. “In my drawer.”

I wriggle away and pull at the drawer by the bed. Jax leans across, his weight sinking onto me as he pulls out a condom. He sits back and I roll the condom onto him slowly, enjoying the noise of pleasure he makes as my fingers stroke him. As soon as I let go, he grabs my wrists and pins my arms above my head.

“Tell me, Tegan. What do you want me to do?” I squirm against Jax, wrapping my legs around his waist and drawing him closer. His cock rubs the edge of me, close but too far.

This is unbearable. Too much. My nerve endings burn and the lust overrides. “Fuck me!” I growl at him. Jax doesn’t need asking twice. There’s no teasing when he thrusts hard into me.

I moan out his name and shift positions so he’s hitting the spot guaranteed to push me to the brink. The few weeks together on tour, we learned what drives each other crazy through nights and days of teasing and exploration. Sex with Jax is the best kind of addiction.

Jax stills, then rocks his hips slowly against mine. “I meant what I said.” He looks down, pushing damp hair from my face.”

“That you missed fucking me?’ I say hoarsely, rolling my hips against him.

Jax holds his weight away; the tension in his arms and face evidence his self-control, but his eyes hold tenderness. “No. I love you, Tegan. You’re amazing. Every part of you.”

I fight hard, but can’t, because the tears well in my eyes. Jax creates a new kind of warmth in my chest as he tells me the words I always wanted to hear, but was scared to say myself until yesterday.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I’m going to spend the weekend showing you how much.”

He kisses me, the movement of his lips on mine ramping up the need for him to take things up a gear. I struggle to free my hands from his and when he releases them, I dig my nails into his backside draw his body hard against me. “Don’t stop. And don’t tease,” I warn.

“No fucking way.”

Jax moves inside me again, gently at first and harder, the momentum hitting the sweet spot he found with his fingers earlier. The movement bumps my clit and I kiss him forcefully again as he gathers pace. I close my eyes and give in to the pleasure pulsing through.

“Tegan.” I open my eyes. The intensity in his gaze dissolves the last barrier, giving him all of my guarded heart. We’re here, in tune and meant to be.

I raise a hand and stroke Jax’s hot cheek. He takes hold and kisses my palm. Since the night in Paris, we’ve had a lot of sex; our relationship focused on how much pleasure we could give each other. Sometimes this is hard, fast and animalistic, where the lust wins; other times, slow and loving when the truth we’ve hidden threatens to be revealed. I only need to be in the same room as Jax and my body sends loud messages to my brain, suggesting I drag him away and get naked.

The fact this passion is matched by something beneath the lust shouldn’t surprise me. How could I have this connection with a guy unless something deeper was beneath? If this was purely sex, I’d only want Jax when he was with me, instead of there being something missing when we’re apart.

This bond of souls is what runs through the intense energy in the room with us now.

Jax lets go of his control. The sex becomes harsher, more frenzied and I grip onto him as he pushes me further to the edge of my favourite place to lose myself in with him. When the orgasm hits, the power of it takes me by surprise, my heart and body splintering. I watch with satisfaction as Jax unravels in front of me, too, his eyes closing and he loses himself in an ecstasy of his own. He swears loudly as I grip him, the familiar white light blinding me as I come again, hard, at a volume to match Jax’s.

“Jesus, Tegan,” he murmurs as he drops his weight onto me. “I wish I’d told you I loved you earlier.”

Giggling, I nuzzle his damp skin. I lie beneath Jax, our hearts thumping against each other as our lips move in soft, slow kisses sending aftershocks through. I could be here forever, in Jax’s arms, surrounded by his love and cocooned away from the real world scratching at the door.

I don’t know what our future holds, but I do know one thing. This is love. What I’ve experienced and thought was love before doesn’t come close to this. The world shifted us onto a new plane where being without each other, even for a day, no longer makes any sense.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

TEGAN

I reluctantly take the weekend off work and leave everything to Riley and Julian to organise.

Semi-reluctantly because I spend time reconnecting with Jax.

The attack is lost in a rosy haze of the new understanding between us, a confidence in our relationship that crossed between us when we dropped the last barrier. I’m buzzing after a weekend with Jax. When we opened up at last about the sudden, crazy love between us, the euphoria translated into sex filled with a new intensity.

Jax loves me.

I love him.

We can face the world together.

No pictures of Julian and me emerged; and I explained to Jax who I was with and why, in case the pictures did appear and he thought I was hiding something. Jax shrugged the story off.

Once I reach the offices, my mind has switched back to what I need to talk to Riley about today, but I halt when I see Bryn’s large frame in the brightly lit hallway. His back is to me as he chats to Julian. About me, no doubt. Julian looks over and I pull a face and point at Bryn.

Bryn turns. “You okay?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Checking on you.”

Through the glass windows lining the walls, Sarah and Claire watch. When I glance at them, they immediately turn away and point at a nearby monitor, acting as if they’re not staring at us. “You’re embarrassing me!”

“Your face looks better.”

“It is.” With the aid of some thick foundation.

Bryn shakes his head. “Come on, I haven’t seen you since the other night you have to understand why I’m concerned.”

I drop my shoulders. “Yes. But I’m fine, Jax is back now and we’re getting through this together.”

“You know mum had a go at me for not keeping an eye on you,” he says in a low voice. “And bloody Sian was on the phone this morning, in my ear about her baby sister’s safety. Don’t be pissed off with me for being able to help.”

I ignore the irritating baby sister comment but I’d never considered the pressure I’ve put Bryn under with everything I’m doing. I put all Bryn’s behaviour down to overprotectiveness. I should’ve realised Mum was nagging him, and now my sister is interfering.

“Tell her I’m fine. Please.”

“Yeah.” Bryn grabs hold and squeezes the breath from me. “Just be bloody careful.”

Embarrassed, I disentangle myself. “Bryn!”

With a laugh, he flicks my nose. “See you later, little Tegan.”

I mutter words Bryn doesn’t want to hear under my breath as he strides away. Sarah and Claire stare, and when they giggle, I turn my back.

Yep, I’m back to being Bryn Hughes’s little sister and Jax Lewis’s girlfriend.

****

Later that morning, Tina calls me into her office. I’m planning a night out somewhere quiet with Jax tonight. We’ve begun to discuss our plans for after the tour; he has the album to finish and I have decisions to make. This is too good to be true – we stay in London together, navigate our relationship, and see how we go. I could stay and work here until I start uni and take a course that fits the role, because I love what I’m doing.

So a summons by Tina lurches my stomach. That could all be about to come crashing down; my work might not be up to scratch.

Tina’s office is huge, befitting her position in the company. Awards line the shelves and hang on the walls, pictures of her with Blue Phoenix and other high profile clients. I’ve never been able to figure Tina’s age, she wears heavy make up on exceptionally smooth skin. Could be anywhere between thirty and fifty. A young girl with sleek platinum blonde hair, not much different in age to me enters the room. She sets coffees from the expensive machine I’ve yet to figure out how to use on the table, along with large muffins. Tina barely registers her arrival and departure, flicking through documents on the laptop screen. I sit opposite and sip my coffee.

“Tegan,” she says and looks up with a tight smile.

“Hey.” My heart flutters. Don’t burst my happy bubble. “You wanted to chat with me?”

“Yes. I have a suggestion for you.” She closes her laptop.

“For the campaign? Sure, Riley said you’d taken a good look over the results.”

“I have. Impressive. The amount of traffic generated and number of click throughs we’re getting is higher than I imagined. You have a handle on what attracts people. Riley said the web copy was your idea?”

“Well, not all…”

“How do you feel about a trip to the States?” She picks at a muffin with manicured, red fingernails.

“Uh. States? How long for?”

“Riley can’t go, she has other commitments, and I think this would be a good experience for you.”

I rub my head, blindsided by her suggestion. “Wow. I mean. Um. I’m not sure. Where?”

She continues her explanation, as nonchalantly as if she’s asked me to bring her another coffee. “New York. We could have a position open for you too if things go well. The latest intern is leaving next month.”

I grip the smooth coffee cup. “Position?”

“You have a talent, we have an opening. Think about it.”

My mind scrambles. A switch from travelling the world to full-time work? From London plans to a job at a prestigious firm in New York.
New York
. “Right.”

Tina picks up a pen and glances at me. “Any questions?”

“Yes. No. I need to think about this.” Already in my mind’s eye, I’m living in a loft apartment in Brooklyn. I have a friend who studies at Columbia and sends me pictures and stories. I never thought I’d be able to afford New York.

“Of course you do. I’d say take your time, but I need to know by the time this campaign is done with. You’d leave shortly after the Ruby Riot project is complete.”

“Right. Okay.”

In a daze, I head along the hallway and back to my desk. This role was temporary, a bit of fun and experience to stand me in good stead for the future. I wasn’t expecting to throw my life into work yet, but look at the opportunity. Travel. Prestige. Financial independence.

The grey skyline outside my window could be replaced by Manhattan. Studying for a degree for three years in order to land a job exactly like this makes no sense when I could have it all now.

Wow.

****

JAX

There’s a confident aura around the Tegan recently reminiscent of the girl I met in Portugal. Not that she’s ever lost the determined love for life, but I’m suddenly aware how the tour lifestyle squeezed some of this from her.

If it wasn’t for the way she shares the ache when we’re apart and told me she’d loved me, the tenderness in her touch after the unleashing of the passion into the mind-blowing sex I’ve longed for since she left for London, I’d worry she was unsure about a future. No, Tegan told me she loved me and the truth is reflected in each look and touch.

Loving Tegan is like standing on the top of a high building, a sick feeling in my stomach as I fight against falling and landing hard. But she knows how I feel now, and that’s one step closer to keeping her.

After the crap that happened to Tegan, and my confession about what she means to me, I need to up the romance. Chicks love that shit and I’m sure Tegan will too. I order champagne and persuade her into the massive spa bath in my hotel room. The relaxed intimacy of life with Tegan rejoins me, as if she’s never been away. Hair piled on her head and face flushed by the heat, Tegan lies back and places her leg on my shoulder. I rub the bubbles from Tegan’s ankle and kiss the damp skin.

“I like this,” I say.

“What?”

“Me and you being me and you, away from all the crap.”

I run my fingers along her slippery leg. “When I’ve made a bucket load of money, I’ll take us places where the world can’t see us. Buy a house somewhere exclusive and private, like your brother has.” Tegan doesn’t respond and splashes the water in front of her. “You okay? You’re quiet.”

“I’m good.”

I sit forward and push damp hair from Tegan’s face. The graze on her forehead has almost healed, but a sick anger grips when I think about her hurt because of me.

“This would make a good photo,” she says with a giggle. “Me and you in the bath.”

“Tegan…” I warn.

“Kidding! I’m not jeopardising things with Tina.”

I rub more bubbles from her body, tracing my fingers along the damp skin. “Jeopardising what?”

She chews her lip. “Nothing.”

“The work you’ve been doing? Tell me what plans you have for the band. I hope you’re not going to photograph me half-naked.”

Tegan’s mouth twitches into a smile and she reaches for the floor. “Well… where’s my phone?” I splash her and she laughs. “Not my plans to make. Anyway, Riley’s told you everything.”

“Might’ve switched off once she started talking,” I say with a grin. “I’m only interested in my music.”

“Rude!” She flicks bubbles at me.

“Tell me. What’s happening?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Tegan…” I tug her leg and she slips down the bath, her head touching the water.

With a splash, she sits up and glares at me. I’m not paying attention to the pout though, only the erotic fantasy of Tegan’s glistening tits, nipples peeking out from behind the bubbles. I drag her legs further toward me and hold her slippery skin against mine.

Tegan straddles my lap but resists my attempts to touch her beneath the water as we kiss. Her breath comes fast against my face as she kisses my neck.

“I missed you today,” I murmur. “Come back to bed if you won’t let me fuck you here.”

She slaps my back. “So romantic!”

I pull her head away and hold her face. “Come to bed and make sweet, beautiful love with me.” We both snort with laughter and she kisses me again.

I missed this girl so fucking much.

“Later.” Tegan nips my ear.

“So, what’s happening with Tina? Tell me.”

Tegan switches her attention to the water, squeezing bubbles between her fingers. “She offered me a job.”

“Wow! That’s awesome!” Tegan doesn’t smile. “Isn’t it? You get to stay in London. With me.”

“Offered me a job in New York.”

I loosen my grip on her waist. “What?”

“Tina wants me to go to the States for a few weeks, see how I go and if everything works out, the company might take me on over there.”

Her words slam me in the chest; I don’t want to hear the answer to my next question. “In the States? That was bloody sudden! Are you going?”

Finally, Tegan turns her big brown eyes to mine. “Maybe.”

“Maybe,” I repeat. Tegan says something else, but I don’t hear. We’ve spoken about trying to make a go of things; solidify what we have before my world changes permanently. Now this. “Right.”

I grab a towel from the shelf above the bath and stand.

Tegan looks up, mouth parting. “What’s wrong?”

I yank the towel around my waist and step out of the bath. “What the hell do you think is wrong?”

“I haven’t made a final decision, Jax,
I
-”

“But you’re thinking about going, aren’t you? What about us?”

“That’s why I haven’t made the final decision!”

Water drips to the floor, down my legs as the jealous disappointment runs through my body. “Why now?”

“Not now. Soon. In a few weeks.”

“I don’t fucking believe this!” I storm out of the bathroom and run my fingers through my damp fringe.

“Jax!”

By the time she appears, covered in a towel and bubbles sliding down her legs, I’m half dressed, t-shirt in hand. Tegan approaches and touches my face. “Don’t be like this.”

“I can’t believe you’d decide something as big without talking to me.”

“I haven’t decided anything! I
am
talking to you!”

“Sounds like the decision is made.” I pull my t-shirt on. “Thanks a lot.”

Tegan sinks onto the bed, where the sheets remain scrunched from our afternoon wrapped in each other. “Wow.”

“I told you I wanted us! Don’t you want this?”

“Of course I do but I have an opportunity here!”

“You never said you were interested in a career in PR! Not once!”

“I spend my life on social media, blogging, writing, this is just an extension of that.”

“A week ago, you said this was temporary! You can’t go!”

I stiffen as her eyes flash with a look I recognise, the memory of a similar argument pushing in, but this is different. This would be permanent.

“I can’t go?” she says, voice ice-cold.

“I don’t want you to! This would be over.”

“Oh, really? Thanks!”