Jax's fingers were fisted in Lola's hair, and he slightly tugged her head back. His lips hovered over hers as he allowed her a breather before he once again claimed her lips. He grabbed her waist, and in one swift motion, he had her pressed against the wall. His hand slid under her shirt, and his fingers dug into her waist as he felt her warm skin.
Lola's lips parted. Their tongues caressed against each other. Her body heated with lust, and Jax's hands were unwillingly taking it slow and easy as they slid up against her front.
She dragged her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer to her body. He leaned down and kissed her neck. His tongue slid over her collarbone, and he pressed a kiss on her shoulder. He looked at her neck. His wolf was stirring within him, wanting to mark their mate.
He knew he couldn't, not yet. Lola wasn't ready to be his.
Jax fought against his instincts and lifted his head.
She was panting, her cheeks turned rosy, and she smiled a soft smile as Jax lifted her arm over her head.
He pulled at the hem of her shirt, slowly sliding it off and dropping it beside them. His thumbs graced her lip. He fought not only with himself but also with his wolf, who was pushing his way to the front.
"Step back," he ordered his wolf.
"Mark her," he responded.
"She's not ready. We need to take it slow. We need to be careful." Jax pushed his wolf back and reluctantly allowed his human to block him out.
He leaned in and gently pressed his lips against Lola's. His fingers slid down her chest to her waist and around her back.
His tongue entered between her lips, and Jax realized that he could never let her go. He was addicted not only to her person but now also to her taste and her touch.
"Jax," Lola moaned when his hands slowly touched every inch of her bare skin.
He moved painfully slow and enjoyed each caress. He kissed down her jaw and up to her ear, where his lips stopped, and he whispered, "Yes?"
His deep voice had her clenching her legs and her core tightening in anticipation. Jax unbuttoned her jeans and slid his hand down. The other went up to her neck and turned her head so she faced him. He wanted to see as she submitted to the pleasure. Lola's eyes closed. She licked her dried lips and sucked her lip between her teeth. Her hips pressed against his hand when his finger moved between her folds.
He moved the lacey fabric aside, and with one finger, he entered her. A moan escaped her lips, and as the sound entered Jax's ears, all restraint was lost. He grabbed the back of her head and slammed his lips down on hers. Their tongues now fought for dominance, and his finger started moving faster. Lola's moans disappeared between his lips, and the primal urge to mate was now taking over.
A loud, impatient knock pounded on the door. They stopped, their lips trying to find each other, but the knocking did not stop.
"Ignore it." Jax groaned and grabbed her waist.
"Yo, Jax!" It was Ash. The knocking became louder and more impatient until Jax stormed over and flung open the door.
Lola pressed herself back so he wouldn't see her and quickly grabbed her hoodie from the floor.
"What?" Jax barked.
Ash looked around the parts of the room that he could see. A deep smirk grew on his face and flicked with his head for Jax to follow.
"He's up. It's time to work." He gestured for Jax's hair. "You might wanna run a comb through that first, though." He grinned.
"You go. I'll be right there." Jax walked back into the room and closed the door. He walked up to Lola, who had just buttoned her pants, and she smiled.
"Go. It's time to work," she said with a grin.
"I'll be back," Jax said, hoping for something, but he didn't know what.
They stood away from each other. Neither made a move toward the other, and with that, Jax walked out. Lola stood alone in her flustered state.
She threw herself on the bed and put her hand over her chest. The giddy smile that spread on her face very much confirmed her emotions. She pressed her face into the pillow and couldn't believe what had just happened. It was unbelievable and new and so very unlike her, but she was happy that it had happened. Something about Jax felt right to her, a kind of right that she had never felt before.
Lola ran a brush through her hair and decided to take a stroll through the house. She couldn't be still right now. Each time she tried to relax, she thought of Jax, and her body responded with an insatiable need.
Lola walked out into the hallway and down the stairs. To think that one family owned all of this, the gold and the art, was baffling to her. The mansion they lived in could house a small village, but just one family lived there. Well, one family and all of their help. Lola scoffed as she entered the smaller library on the first floor. They had another one upstairs that was accessed by a leveled floor with steps and opened into a huge two-leveled room filled with books. She walked in and looked at the selection they had and saw Stephen King and Victor Hugo. Her lips shivered as she blew out an exaggerated breath and looked around in boredom.
She walked around the corner down the hall and started hearing voices from the crack in the door further down.
Lola stopped when she heard her name. It was followed by a loud smack and someone grunting.
She moved slowly, tiptoeing against the wall to get closer. Their voices grew louder, and she started being able to make out the sounds.
"Who sent you?" It was Jax who asked.
Who was he talking to?
She got closer to the door but was too scared to peek inside the room. What if they saw her?
"Our guest isn't up for talking, it seems." She heard Ash speak.
His shadow crossed the wall as he moved around in the room.
"Maybe he just needs some motivation," Jax said.
Lola's hand flew up to cover the gasp that left her lips when she heard his agonizing screams fill the hall.
Once the screaming stopped, whoever was in there panted in pain.
"Kill me," he begged.
Ash chuckled lowly. "Not yet. Not before you give us answers."
Her eyes closed, and she pressed herself back against the wall when the screams rang out once more.
Lola leaned in. She peeked through the crack in the door and saw those brown eyes that followed her in school-the brown eyes that belonged to the guy she thought would kill her.
It was Clay. He was bleeding from all over. He hung from his hands attached to the ceiling and had a plastic sheet under his feet that kept the blood from splattering on the carpet.
He saw her. Their eyes met, and despite the pain he was in, his lips turned up in a smile.
"Why are you and your buddies in Wild Cliff?" Ash asked.
Clay didn't break eye contact with Lola. She felt the gaze getting more intense. Her eyes flickered down his bare chest and the slice marks made by a knife.
"I didn't think you would tell her," he said and pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth. He lifted his heavy head and slowly turned to Jax. "You weren't supposed to tell her." Clay was looking incredulously at the man holding the knife with his blood dripping down the blade.
"Why did you come?" Jax asked. His voice was dark and hoarse. When Jax turned to the side, Lola saw how his eyes were yellow.
"I came for her, of course," he said slowly.
Clay's head turned back to Lola, and their eyes met, both of them drowning in secrets.
Jax slowly turned on his feet. Lola pulled back from the door but hit something behind her. Mrs. Blackwood stood behind her, and Mr. Blackwood was coming down the hall. She reached around Lola and opened the door.
"Curious, don't you think?" she said and scanned Lola's face.
"How all of these things seem to have to do with one simple girl," Mrs. Blackwood continued. Ash scoffed.
"Nobody said she was simple," he snarled.
Jax turned and looked at Lola as she was cornered, forced into the study, and now stood amidst the blood and gore. Jax looked in disappointment as his mate turned and faced him. His eyes darkened, and his head lowered.
"She's been lying," he said internally, conflicted as he spoke to his wolf.