The Next Contestant (38 page)

I want to defy him just so he’ll keep doing this. But then I wonder what, or who he’d be doing if we hadn’t crossed paths tonight.
Ellery
, the devil in my head whispers, all the heat suddenly turns frigid. “Okay. I’ll go with you,” I whisper.

Jax is off of me lightening quick and dragging me to my feet just as fast. He has a tight grasp on my wrist as he speed walks down the muddy slope. Anger flashes through me once again. Was he manipulating me with dirty talk and falsely giving me hope? What is it that I’m hoping for? I can’t go there. My heart ached before but now it’s full on crushing.

We’re only a few short steps away from his car now and I have the urge to slap him, bite him, and kick him. Instead, I rip my hand free from his hold and he stops instantly. Slowly, he turns around. He smirks and raises an eyebrow, challenging me.

I don’t like it, don’t like it one bit and I think he knows it because grabs my shirt, twists it in his fist and yanks me forward. I fight to get his hand off of me. We become a mess of hands seizing and prying until I dig my fingers into a tight hold on his shirt. He tugs, I tug. During our tug of war, I manage to rip his shirt, buttons plunking to the ground.

I pause for a moment and wonder…

What is it with alcohol? And emotions, and crying? Because I know it’s making me this emotional wreck and egging me on, fueling me to keep fighting. And sobbing. And pushing him, causing him to fight back when I know all he really wants to do is get me into his damn car so he can dump me off at home. He drags me around to the driver side and the clever boy pulls me in, on top of his lap and quickly slams the door. I wriggle against him, pry his clasped hands off my belly.

He’s probably thanking his lucky stars, or soccer ball, that he’s finally done with me. I imagine him with Ellery, then sickly enough, Timber, and it stirs me up all over and I’m fighting to get out of his damn car again.

Jax grabs my shoulders prohibiting me from escaping. “You’re not fucking running away, again,” he snarls. Then he lets up and I crawl over to the passenger side and sulk when he grabs hold of my arm.

We sit in silence and wait for the other to speak. Tension burns for the next few minutes.

Jax finally releases me and I automatically reach for the door, but the snick of the locks has me rotating toward him. I see his finger remains glued, pressing down on the
lock
position of the switch.
Smart ass
.

I FINALLY GIVE
up my fight and sink into the seat. Jax drives and drives and drives. By now, I know he’s not taking me home and I wonder why, but refuse to ask. After thirty minutes, I realize he’s taking me to his house. I don’t protest. I want to be with him.

Jax pulls into the garage, leads me inside and in one swift move, he closes the door and backs me into it. Then he presses a hand against the door on each side of my body and leans into me until our lips are mere inches apart. He maintains his position, his mouth fractionally parts, and he breathes softly into my face.

I shiver from head to toe, then slowly raise my hand and place it in the center of his chest where his shirt is ripped open from my attempt to escape. He inhales sharply as I drag my palm down his warm skin and pause slightly above his happy trail. He cups my chin, and brusquely pulls my lips to his. I keen but it’s lost in the sound of his growl.

Weeks of escalating jealousy, him flaunting other women, me leaning on other men to get even, the time spent craving for his touch, come rushing back, leaving me craving him so severely my body tingles with need.

“We’re all muddy,” I whisper as I run my palm further down his abdomen, and pause slightly above the button of his jeans.

“I want you, Kimber. And you want me. That’s why you’re here, clothes damp and dripping mud in my entryway.”

“I wanted you to leave me alone,” I lie.

“But you’re here and you didn’t stop me or ask where I was taking you when we were in my car.”

I know my cheeks are red, giving away the truth. I glance down at my feet. He places his fingers under my chin and forces me to look at him.

“Do you want to leave, or stay, Kimber?”

“Stay,” I murmur, staring anxiously up at him.

“Thank god.” He stares down at me, the amusement in his eyes evident. “You were so angry with me,” he breathes.

“Yes.”

“I hated it,” he says roughly as he runs the tips of his fingers down my cheek. His proximity, his wet, muddy, yet fantastic smell is making me crave him. My heart is pounding and desire unfurls in my entire body.

“What are we doing,” I whisper.

“I don’t know,” he whispers back.

“Neither do I.”

“I know.” He plants a soft kiss under my earlobe; his fingers tighten in my hair. Pulling my head back, he exposes my throat to his lips. His tongue skims my chin, and he kisses and nips at my throat. “I want you,” he breathes and continues his assault.

“I know,” I whisper as I grasp his biceps.

“We need to shower.” He steps back, reaches for my hand, and leads me upstairs into his bedroom. We continue past his fantastic bed, and step into the massive black and gray marble tiled bathroom. Letting go of me, he reaches over and cranks the knob, filling the very large Jacuzzi. Steam billows as the tub fills.

I guess we’re taking a bath instead of a shower.

It’s warm and muggy in the bathroom and my semi dry shirt dampens and clings to my skin.

Jax leans over to shut the water off. Stepping toward me, his eyes are predatory, sexy, as if he’s going to devour me. I want him to devour me. Reaching around me, he pushes me forward, in front of him, toward the large mirror in front of the double sinks. Standing behind me, he grabs the hem of my shirt and drags it over my head. He tosses it on the floor, and then rests his chin over my shoulder, staring at me in the mirror. Slowly, he slips the straps of my bra down, unclasps the clip in the front and as it falls to the floor, he cups my breasts in his hands. His fingers skillfully rub and pinch the nipples causing me to groan at the sensation.

Not taking his eyes off me, his hands slide down my sides, gather at my lower abdomen and he flicks the button of my skirt open. He continues to drag the zipper down. “I’ve been dying to touch you again, Kimber,” he breathes heatedly as he drags his nose along my neck.

Hooking his thumbs into my skirt and panties, he slowly slides them down my legs, dropping down behind me as he pulls them off.

Gripping the edge of the sink, I step out of my clothes pooling at my feet.

He comes back up and undresses quickly. I watch him in the mirror as he does and he smirks knowingly at me. He steps into the tub and I marvel at his beautiful physique. Not an ounce of fat on him. Every aspect of him is perfectly sculpted, and his handsome face, blue sparkling eyes, messy blond hair, is a godsend. His skin is smooth, chest hairless, male parts hairless, and just… mouthwatering.

Stepping into the tub, Jax holds his hand out and I take it. After stepping into the warm water, he grasps my hips and slowly leads me down to sit in front of him. I feel his breath on my back as he sweeps my hair to the side and then his lips are kissing a trail toward my neck.

“Grab the shower head and turn the water on. I’ll wash your hair,” he orders. I oblige.

Jax soaks my hair, hands me the sprayer, then reaches over me to retrieve the dual bottles of shampoo and conditioner. I hear him pressing the pump before his hands are in my hair, kneading and massaging my scalp. He works the shampoo down to the ends of my hair then presses his chest against my back to retrieve the nozzle from me. He rinses the bubbles out and then repeats the same pattern with the conditioner.

Squirting soap all over my chest and back, he sets the container on the ledge and presses the tips of his long fingers between my shoulders and begins to massage my back sensually. His hands glide down my arms, underneath, along my sides and over my breasts where he lingers, pinching, and stroking my nipples. Working his way back down, he sticks his finger in my navel and I hate it. I wiggle my disapproval and he laughs and buries his nose in my neck. His laughter dissolves as he dips both hands below my pelvis. My breathing increases as he rubs the outer edges of my folds. His growing erection presses against my back and he moans against the shell of my ear.

“Rise to your knees,” he says huskily. When I hesitate, he grasps my hips and nudges me. “I want to wash all of you.”

I ascend to my knees and attempt to sit on my heels, but Jax stops me.

“No, stay upright and put your hands against the wall,” he orders.

He leans forward, squirts more soap in his hand, dips it between my parted legs and his skillful fingers work a glorious friction over my clit. With his free hand, he slips a finger inside of me and circles it in an erotic way that has me pressing against him.

Slowly, he stops and slides his finger between the crease of my ass causing me to inhale sharply. I pull forward but he grasps my hip to keep me in place. Gently, he rubs the tip of his finger over the tight ring. When he adds pressure, I jerk forward and attempt to flip around to face him but the tub is slippery. I fall but Jax catches me and he’s grinning. It pisses me off.

“Don’t ever do that again,” I hiss and smack his chest.

“I can’t help it. You have a sexy little ass and I want to tap it.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“Yeah, well, it’s not going to happen, so move over and let me wash you down.” He does as instructed and I wash and rinse his hair. Working a good lather in my palms, I slide my hands over his muscular back, across his shoulders, chest, abs, and then I grasp his cock.

As I stroke up and down his shaft, he drops his head back against my chest, and I watch his face as I continue. His eyes are closed; jaw slack and his breaths are rugged. I squeeze him a little harder and move faster.

“Fuuck, baby,” he hisses and then grabs my hand, stopping me. “Not in here.”

Okay then. I push my hand down his back and force him to lean forward. “I just want to wash every inch of you,” I tell him.

Slowly, I rub his tight butt, and then I quickly poke a finger against the rim of his ass. He clenches his cheeks and jerks away from me.

“Hell no. That’s fucking gay as shit,” he says. I’m laughing so hard as he turns to face me and growls. He proceeds to rinse himself then shuts the water off and turns to face me.

Jax’s face falls and he’s suddenly serious. Pushing out of the water, he holds out his hand and I take it. I’m standing before him, we’re both dripping wet, and he wraps his arms around me pulling me closer. Gently, he cups my face, leans down, and kisses me hard, pushing his tongue into my mouth. He cradles my head, his tongue still exploring, and his kiss is sweet, gentle and… emotional, like maybe he loves me?

Breaking the kiss, he leads me out of the tub and doesn’t bother drying off or offering to give me a towel. He steps behind me and nudges me toward the dual sinks. I’m naked and dripping wet, staring in the mirror, watching Jax as he kneels behind me. He kisses and then tenderly bites my ass, which startles me. He comes up and cocoons himself around me. Covering my hands with his, he draws me tight against him and rests his jaw on my shoulder. His breath laves over me, so heated and intimate. His tongue darts out and licks the droplets of water dripping down my neck, and he pauses behind my ear. The sensation sends chills racing down my wet skin. He tangles his fingers in my hair, fisting it and pulling my head back so I’m looking up at him staring hotly down at me. He inhales deeply, lets out a heated growl and a shudder runs through me.

He palms my cheek, tilts my head back further and his lips are instantly on mine. I open up allowing his tongue entry. He takes full advantage exploring my mouth with his tongue expertly, passionately. Electricity charges the air, fueling my soul, and his soul… I think.

He splays his large hand across my belly. “God, you’re so beautiful,” he whispers against my ear as he watches me in the mirror. Clasping my hands under his, he moves our right hands slowly down my abdomen between my thighs, our left hands over my breast. I have the urge to pull my hand back, not sure I want to touch my clit with him watching, but he’s quick and we’re already there, and he’s moving our fingers sensually over the nub.

His erection is hard against my back but then he shifts his position, kneeling slightly behind me, slipping his cock between my parted legs, but doesn’t enter, only sways back and forth between my folds.

My head falls back against his chest; I close my eyes overwhelmed with the wealth of sensations, the feel of him behind me, between my thighs, and I can’t stop the moan that escapes my parted lips.

Jax stops abruptly, spins us around, and leads me toward the bedroom.

He drags me in front of him so I’m facing the edge of the bed. Before I can protest, not that I would, he slides his hands down my sides, one resting on my hip while the other continues down my thigh, hoisting my leg up, bending it at the knee and then pressing me onto the edge of the bed.

My hands and one knee on the mattress, he leans over me and drags his hot lips over the bare skin of my back, shoulders, and neck. He pauses at my ear, his breathing rapid and warm as he skates one palm down ass. The other slides over my abdomen, slips between my thighs and then he presses two fingers against my clit.