“Wrong, and your assumption is the reason I worked to strip the accent out of me. I didn’t like that people could identify where I grew up and pass judgment on me simply for how I sounded.”
He wasn’t surprised to hear she’d actively worked to improve something about herself she saw as a fault. Vanessa seemed intent she and everything else in her life was above par. More than ever he suspected something in her past was what drove her to be so strict about how her future should be. The question was, what?
“Good for you, V, I think that’s great. It also means you get to choose where you’d like to do your shot.”
The thought of Vanessa licking him anywhere had his blood draining to a central area of his body. She indicated his neck and didn’t hesitate to go through the ritual. Every stroke of her tongue licked flames up the side of his throat, consuming him a little at a time. He swore he almost cracked his jaw from clenching it to keep from turning his head and attacking her mouth.
When she finished, he gave her a half smile that he hoped said, That was about as much of a turn-on as shopping for car insurance, but thanks for trying. The slight widening of her eyes revealed a hint of incredulity at his lack of reaction, but he played it off like he was oblivious. Oblivious. Yeah, right.
Jax felt more like he was wired to notice every minute detail about her. From the shape of her eyes to the freckle on the back of her left knee. From the way her green irises could throw sparks when pissed to languid pools when relaxed.
Oblivious was the last thing he was when it came to this woman. And for the life of him, he didn’t know why.
“Are we done or are you going to take another turn?” she asked.
He grinned. “Anxious to have my mouth on you again?”
“In your dreams, surfer boy.”
He dropped the joking manner and stared directly into her eyes. “Actually, I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of my dreams. Lusting after you during my waking hours is about all I can handle right now.”
Her mouth opened as if to respond, but nothing came out. For a long moment they were silent, just stared at each other, until she lowered her gaze and tucked a side of her hair behind her ear. Finally, he broke the silence by taking his turn in the game.
“I’m deathly afraid of spiders. True or bullshit?”
She studied him carefully and then rendered her verdict. “Bullshit.”
“Wrong.”
“Really?”
“Reid and Lucie are the only people who know my weakness, so I expect you’ll take that intel to your grave, MacGregor.”
She made a production of crossing her heart and holding her right hand up. “I swear. I won’t tell anyone you’re afraid of itty-bitty bugs.”
The little wench thought his phobia was amusing, eh? He’d show her amusing.
“My turn to drink.” Grabbing the hem of her tank in his hands, he started lifting it up her stomach. He didn’t make it much past her belly button before she grabbed his wrists and held tight. He looked up at her with a questioning arch of his brow.
“I thought you said there wouldn’t be any removal of clothing.”
“No, I said the loser wouldn’t be required to remove any clothing. However, the winner can remove anything that gets in the way of him doing a shot in the location of his choosing.”
“Holy shit,” she said with wide eyes. “You lawyer loopholed me.”
He winked. “Don’t take it too hard. I took advantage of your arrogance.”
“My arrogance?”
“Settle down, princess.” Jax rotated his hands up, breaking free of her hold. “Your arrogance is one of the things I like most about you.”
When she opened her mouth to protest, he laid a finger against her lips. “Shh. Rules are rules, after all.”
She slitted her eyes, but there was no hiding the humor dancing behind her lashes. Sure she wouldn’t argue anymore, he pulled her shirt over her head, discarding it somewhere on the floor behind him. A fancy black bra covered with sea green lace encased her breasts. They swelled over the tops of the cups that barely covered her nipples. It was quite possibly the most glorious piece of lingerie he’d ever seen.
“Sweet Jesus. Is that a matching set?” He zeroed in on her shorts, praying for X-ray vision.
“You’ll have to win another round to find out.” She gave him a satisfied smile. “Rules are rules, after all.”
“Touché,” he said, answering with a smile of his own. Too bad he was about to wipe that smirk right off her face.
Wrapping his hands around the sides of her ribs, Jax lifted her enough to set her back against the armrest of the couch. The look in her eyes told him she couldn’t decide if she wanted to chastise him for man-handling her or let go of her need to control and see where it led.