“I stopped by your house, but you weren’t there. I tried calling you too.”
Snorting, he pulled out his phone. “Figures you would when it’s dead.” His gaze locked onto the painting. “I guess I was too busy to charge it up.”
“I see that,” I said, looking down at his work. “It’s a beautiful picture. Thank you for painting it for me.”
A small smile spread across his face. “You’re welcome.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the others were yours?”
He shrugged and stepped closer. “I didn’t want anyone to know. I had Angela drop them off at the gallery and pretend they were hers.”
“You have a talent, Jaxon. It’s a shame you don’t want people to know.”
“And I’m okay with that,” he said, closing the distance. He was just a step away, but he stopped, his gaze raw. “I figured if you wanted me to be honest in this relationship, I should tell you everything. I have nothing to hide from you. Your brother was right; I’m not a good guy. I’ve done some bad things to people, but I’ve made peace with those I hurt. I’m trying to be a better man.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and took the painting, setting it down gently against the wall before wrapping his hands around my arms, drawing me in to his body. “Please say we can work this out.”
Sighing, I closed my eyes against the burn. Opening my eyes, I stepped back and grabbed the painting, pressing the elevator button with my elbow. “You hurt me, Jaxon. Loving you terrifies the shit out of me, but it’s also a feeling I’ve never had before. I don’t know if I can fully trust you again.” Opening my eyes, I stepped back and pressed the elevator button.
He rushed in front of me and stood in the way when the doors opened. “Then let me gain it back. It kills me that I hurt you, and I’ve been beating myself up over it every goddamn day. I don’t think I could let you go even if I wanted to.” My breath hitched and I froze, especially when his hands lifted to my face. His skin was warm, his scent engulfing me as he pulled me into the elevator. “You’re the only one who understands me.”
Tears slid down my cheeks and he wiped them away. His lips closed over mine and I opened myself up to him, giving him my silent answer. He pulled back first and rested his forehead to mine.
“Does that mean yes?” he asked.
I nodded and kissed him again. “If we’re going to do this, I need your full honesty on everything. Can you give me that?”
He nodded. “I’d do anything for you.”
The elevator doors had closed, but pressing the button again, they opened and we stepped in, getting out at the lobby. With a mischievous grin on his face, Stan waved at us when we walked past to the other set of elevators. He probably saw the whole exchange in the parking deck on the security cameras.
When we got into the elevator to my floor, Jaxon pulled me into his arms again, only this time his kisses were harder, more urgent. I gripped the painting, trying my best not to drop it. “I’ve missed you so much,” he groaned. His lips slid down my neck to the top of my collarbone.
“Same here.” In more ways than one.
By the time we got off the elevator, every feeling in my body was heightened. His touch drove me crazy and I needed more. Taking his hand, I led him to my door and flung it open. The second we got inside, I set the painting down and he pushed me against the wall, his hips pressing into mine.
He looked down at me, those amber eyes of his raw with need. “I want to make love to you, Bristol.”
A slow smile spread across my face. “What’s stopping you, then?”
Lifting his hand, he ran his fingers through my hair. “I have to make sure this is what you want. I don’t want to scare you.”
I held his hand to my cheek. “I do want this. And I’m not going to lie—you do scare me. I don’t want to get hurt again, but even more so because of the way you make me feel. Even when I found out what you’d done to people, I still couldn’t shut you out. It’s like I’m being pulled to you and the harder I fight it, the harder it is to resist. It grows stronger every day.”
“And now?” he questioned, closing the distance, his lips so achingly near to mine. “How does it feel when I touch you and kiss you?”
I looked up at him, tracing his lips with my thumb. “It all feels right.”
Sliding his hand out of my hair, he rested it on my neck and pulled me closer. I willingly complied and buried myself in his arms as he kissed me. His breathing quickened and so did mine. I couldn’t get enough of him. Picking me up in his arms, he carried me down the hallway to my bedroom, lit only by the lights of downtown through my window. I breathed in deep and moaned when he placed me on the bed and covered me with his body. Half of his face was cast in shadow, but it didn’t mask the raw, untamed need I saw in his eyes. I shivered and let out a shaky breath.
“There’s still time to back out,” he offered.
Shaking my head, I lifted his T-shirt off and ran my hands down his smooth chest. “No, this is what I want,” I whispered, sliding my hand over his groin and squeezing his cock through his jeans.
He thrust into my hand and grunted. “Jesus, what are you doing to me?” Sliding off the bed, he dropped his pants and boxers to the floor. I squealed when he grabbed my ankles and slid me down to the edge of the bed. He lifted my shirt over my head, and I unbuttoned my pants. He helped me slide them off, letting them fall to the floor.
My core tightened as he lowered me back on the bed and spread me wide. He gazed down at me, the heated look in his eyes making me tremble as he pushed my underwear to the side and slipped a finger inside. I gasped and arched my back, wanting to feel more than just his finger stretching me open.
“More,” I begged.