Chapter 4
"Did you find out what Moore wanted?" Jax places a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice down on the bathroom counter as he stares at my reflection in the mirror.
"I was too busy last night to call him and ask." I wink and see a sly smile glide over his perfect lips.
"Too busy making me come," he says in a breathless whisper. His hands pull the towel away from my body.
"It's cold in here," I shriek as I reach to pick it up from where it fell on the floor.
He takes off out the door in a flash and I hear him call back down the hallway, "I'm getting your robe, then you're going to eat the breakfast I made you."
My stomach turns at the mere mention of food. Today is the day I'm going to deal with Mark and that has to begin with me telling Jax that my former fiancé is essentially harassing me. I haven't spoken to Mark in months. After finding out about his affair with Liz, and how he had manipulated control of the company he owned with Jax, I wanted nothing to do with the man anymore.
"Brighton's coming back to town tomorrow." Jax is back, covering my naked body with a plush white robe. "I'm going to have lunch with him later in the week. He'd like to see you too."
I smile at the mention of Jax's older brother. Since Brighton has been away showing his art in Europe the past few months, they've gotten a lot closer. I know my insistence that he work on his relationship with his brother has had some impact but I also know that Jax has come to realize that holding a grudge against Brighton wasn't helping either of them.
"I'd love that." I pull my hand across his cheek. "I've missed seeing him."
"Me too, beautiful." He cups my hand in his as he kisses my palm. "I'll let you know what day it is."
I nod as I turn back around to finish straightening my long, blonde hair. I watch Jax's reflection through the corner of my eye as he scans his smartphone. I want to ask him what he's going to do today but I'm fearful that he'll retreat back into the brooding and quiet part of himself that he is whenever I bring up the possibility of him going back to the helm of Intersect Investments. His father's company meant the world to him until he felt he was losing me. He gave it up and now I feel a slight hint of resentment coursing through the air between us whenever either of us mentions it.
"Ivy." The word escapes his lips in a hushed tone. "Ivy, sit down."
I turn to face him, the hairbrush still clutched firmly in my grasp. "Why? You want me to suck you off right now?" I tease. "I have to get to work."
"Ivy, sit." His tone matches the glare in his eyes. "Sit."
I reach to grab hold of the edge of the counter and lower myself onto the closed toilet seat. "Jax?" I mumble his name. "What?"
He runs his hand along the back of his neck before he glances at his phone again. "Ivy, it's…"
The loud hum of my own phone breaks the moment. I stand to retrieve it from the bedroom. He blocks my path. He leans against the doorway, his large frame making it impossible for me to escape.
"I should get that." I press my hand against his solid chest. "It may be about something at the store."
"It's not, beautiful." His hand covers mine pushing it into his skin. "Ivy, I don't know how to tell you this."
"Tell me what?" I feel panic rushing through me. The expression on his face is unlike anything I've seen before. "Jax? What's happened?"
"It's Mark." His tone is even and calm. "Ivy. Mark is dead."