Jesse was quiet.
Too quiet in fact and Jax didn’t like it one bit.
Ever since they left the apartment she hasn’t look him in the face once. She just kept on staring out the window and if he spoke to her she would just give him short, curt answers which quickly forced him to stop trying to speak to her all together.
He could see by the look on her face that she was thinking about what happened earlier and the lingering expression didn’t bode well at all.
Jax tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
This afternoon had been one of the best sexual experiences of his life and he had thought that she had felt the same way, if the glow she had had around her afterwards was anything to go by. Now, however, she was beating herself up about it. Regretting that moment they had shared together.
Fuck! He thought as his hands tightened even more.
That wasn’t what he wanted.
He wanted her to think of the things they did together and smile, blush or even become horny. Anything but beat herself up because she enjoyed it.
Whoever hurt her in the past was really starting to piss him off. If he ever got hold of him, Jax was going to beat the ever-loving fuck out of him.
“Just to the left here.” She said softly, drawing Jax out of his thoughts.
As he switched lanes to turn into her apartment complex, Jax snuck another look at the gorgeous woman sitting next to him and decided that he wasn’t going to let her pull away from them every time they did something together.
So parking the car close to the front door, Jax jumped out the car and walked around to her side to open her door for her. Ignoring her look of surprise, Jax held his hand out to help her get out with his usual mischievous smile.
After a moment of hesitating Jesse placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her up. She stumbled slightly when he suddenly jerked her against him. As he closed the door behind her he placed his free arm around her waist so she couldn’t move away from him, his hand resting just inches above her ass
His grin widened when she scowled up at him and pushed her tiny hands against his chest to put some space between their bodies. Scared that he would feel the reaction her body was having to him being so close to her.
Jax released her reluctantly but not before running his hand down her delectable ass. Grinning when she sucked in a quick breath and giving a look him a death glare.
Jax put on his best innocent face.
Shaking her head, Jesse turned and walked into the building. She felt Jax watching her, or rather her ass, closely as he followed behind her. Unconsciously, she put more of a swing in her walk which had Jax cursing at his instant hard-on and his hands itching to grab it.
Stopping at her apartment door which, thankfully, was on the ground floor, Jesse reached into her handbag to pull her keys out. Her body rigid as she tried not to shiver at the feel of Jax’s breathes sliding down her neck.
Opening the door, she walked in and held the door open for Jax to enter.
He looked around her home curiously as he stepped inside, wondering if it was going to reflect the woman she pretends to be or the woman she really is.
Strangely enough, it was a mixture of the two.
At first glance everything seems cold and passionless but as you look again, more closely this time, you’ll find splashes of things that show her true wild and passionate side. Things that show that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hide who she really was.
“Well, uhm, I’m just going to grab a few things. I’ll be as quick as I can. You can, uhm, make yourself comfortable so long, if you’d like.” Jesse said stepping up next to him, motioning to the lounge area. She felt nervous with him in her apartment, especially since he was the first male to be in here after Luke.
She was just glad Devon wasn’t here too; she would’ve been an utter wreck had he been.
“You don’t have to rush on my account. I don’t mind waiting.” He said sauntering over to the couch and settling himself down comfortably, like he owned the place.
Jesse watched him reach for the T.V remote and switched it on. He flipped through a few channels before he looking at her with a puzzled expression.
Jesse blushed and quickly moved towards her room, down the passage.
Once inside the safety of her small haven, Jesse dropped back against the closed door and let out a shaky breath.
Once she got the nervous patter of her heart to slow down again, she pushed herself away from the door and moved to cupboard to find something to wear.
Fifteen minutes later she was knee deep in clothes but no closer to finding anything to wear. Everything was either to showy or too plain and if she did find something that she thought could work a small voice in the back her mind would whisper a few soft words that caused her to change her mind.
Funny thing is, the voice drawing her away from the plain clothes sounded like Devon and Jax. While the one shooing her away from the showy ones sounded more like Luke.
Jesse dropped another dress to the floor and banged her head against her cupboard hopelessly.
She was never going to find anything at this rate!
Her eyes widened and her head jerked around as she heard a soft knock at her bedroom door. It opened slowly to show Jax.
“I was wondering if you perhaps needed any help.” He said with a raised brow as he took in the pile of clothes at her feet and her flushed face.
Jesse cleared her throat and turned around to face him completely.
“No, it’s fine. I was just, uhm, looking for something.” She said biting her bottom lip at the lie.
“Didn’t sound that way to me.” He said walking into her room, looking around before turning to her again with grin.
Jesse frowned, puzzled, but her face cleared into understanding when she realized she had been swearing and talking loudly to herself as she looked through her cupboard.
She sighed and her shoulders slumped forward as she gave him a sheepish look.
“I can’t find anything suitable to wear tonight.” She told him truthfully after a moment of contemplating if she tell him what was really wrong or if she should just give him another flimsy excuse.
His grin widened and he stepped closer to her to run his fingers down her cheek. Dropping a soft, lingering kiss on her lips he leaned back slightly and looked down at the clothes on the floor, to the clothes still her cupboard.
His blue eyes shone when he finally looked back at her.
“Why don’t you go shower or something while I look around? You must be sick of smelling of my brother and I, not that I‘m complaining.” He said, whispering the last softly against her neck, making her shiver.
Neither wasI.Jesse thought helplessly.
She loved the fact that their smell was on her skin and in her hair. Surrounding her constantly, making her feel as if they were always next to her even though they weren’t anywhere close.
She blinked in surprise at that thought and quickly stepped away from him.
“That’s not a bad idea. Thank you.” She said forcing herself to sound like her normal, professional self.
Jax’s eyes narrowed at her emotionless tone but she quickly scrambled out the room before he could say anything. She just needed to get away from him before she said something that she might end up regretting later.
“Jesse, you done in there yet? It’s almost time to for us to leave.” Jax asked Jesse through the bathroom door later that night. She had been in there for nearly two hours and he was seriously starting to suspect that she wasn’t going to come out there anytime soon.
“Almost.” She said and even though the door muffled her words slightly, Jax could still hear how her voice shook in nervousness.
He frowned but quickly cleared it away when he heard the lock turn and the door open extremely slowly. He wanted to push the door open faster, wanting to see what she looked like in the dress he had picked for her with his brother in mind, but didn’t. He knew that Jesse had to be brave enough to do this.
His eyes widened and his mouth literally fell open when he saw her standing in the doorway, biting her ruby red lips nervously.
Her hair, by his request, was done up in soft ringlets to the one side to expose her neck where his mark lay bare for everyone to see. Her make-up was done light to not take away the rest of the outfit but to still add a little something to her face. Her dress . . . Her dress was an off the shoulder black number that clung to her every curve. It had a slit from her feet to the very tops of her thighs. It also had an open back that dipped so low that if it had been any lower, it would’ve given people a VERY good show. Her shoes were a bright red stiletto pair that he had found hidden in the back of her cupboard which also matched the small purse that she clutched in her hands in front of her.
“Wow.” Was all he could manage.
Jesse blushed and ducked her head so that he wouldn’t see the relief in her eyes.
She had dreaded the moment she would have to step out the bathroom after she had seen what dress he had packed in for her.
After she had showered at her place, she had walked into her room to find a small bag packed with everything she might need on her bed and all her clothes neatly packed into her cupboard. When she had tried to see what he had packed in for her, he had asked her to wait until it was time for her to get dressed. To trust him and let it be a surprise of sorts.
Reluctantly, she had agreed.
She had regretted her decision as soon as she had pulled out the dress he had packed for her, wishing that she hadn’t fallen for his persuasive smile.
She had worn this dress one time and one time only. When she and Luke had still been married and she still went out her way to dress what she thought was sexy, she had brought this dress for their one year anniversary dinner. She had spent hours on her hair and make-up, wanting to look extra good for him on their ‘special’ day but as soon as he had seen her, he had started laughing.
She still remembered the humiliation of standing there as he told her she looked like a cheap whore. That she should’ve worn something that didn’t show her figure off so much because she was going to make everyone at the restaurant they were going to sick.
To be honest, that had most probably been the last time she had taken effort with her appearance at all.
It taken almost an hour of staring at the dress and arguing with herself to wrack up the nerve to put the dress on. After that it had been a slow process to finish up but once she got into it, she found that she still enjoyed dressing up.
Jax took her hand and pulled her out the bathroom, keeping her hand in his as he led her to his brother was anxiously waiting.
Devon straightened stood up when his brother walked into the room and froze when he saw the most beautiful vision he had ever seen following behind him. Without realizing it, he walked to her. His eyes caressing every dip and curve of her body, lingering on her breast and flash of leg.
He stopped inches away from her.
“You look . . . amazing. Utterly beautiful.” He told her softly and cupped her head between his hands so that he could see her eyes. The vulnerability and soft sparkle of happiness inside them making his chest like so many other times he had looked at her
He kissed her lightly, their lips lingering over one another while Devon breathed in her flowery perfume.
“You guys don’t look too bad either.” She told him when he pulled away.
In fact, they looked so sexy in their black suites that showed their muscular shoulder and backs; that Jesse was actually afraid to go out with them. Knowing that women were going to be throwing themselves at them all night long and she would do if that was going to happen.
Devon looked dashing and commanding with his white button up shirt and black tie.
Jax looked handsome and laid back with his blue button up shirt and black tie that hung loose around his neck.
“I look better though, right?” Jax asked with a grin that had Jesse rolling eyes and Devon to glare at him.
“Let’s just go to dinner. “ Devon said resting his hands on the exposed skin of her lower back to lead her towards the door. Jax followed behind them and grabbed the car keys and wallet with a soft chuckle on his way out. His brother was so busy staring at Jesse that he seemed to have forgotten that they needed.
Jax opened the door for Jesse and Devon helped her inside before both of them climbed in. Devon in the driver’s seat and Jax just behind her.
The drive there was quiet but not uncomfortable even as Jesse felt herself become jitterier the closer they got to the restaurant that Devon had said they were going to. It was one of those really expensive and really fancy French places that Jesse had only ever read about.
“We’re here.” Devon said as he came to a stop.
Jesse was amazed when her door opened and a young gentleman held his hand out for her. He grinned at her when she smiled at him, giving her a wink that had her shaking her head and smiling before Devon and Jax stepped up beside her. Each one took an arm and hooking it in theirs before they led her up the stairs.
The man nodded at them and threw the door open.
Jesse took a deep breath as they stepped inside and straightened her shoulders bravely. She glanced at Devon as he squeezed her hand and nodded at her approvingly.
A gorgeous yet familiar looking, red head headed their way with a wide, friendly smile.
As she got closer, Jesse’s eye’s widened in surprise as she recognized their waitress from the little Italian place by the sea.
“Lucy?” She asked causing the girl to frown in confusion.
Lucy glanced at Devon and Jax before recognition replaced her confusion.
“Hi, it’s nice to see you guys again!” She said, stopping in front of them, her plain black dress swishing around her feet.
“What are you doing here?”
“I work here as a hostess during the night on weekends. You guys come to have some dinner?” Lucy asked glancing at the bookings sheet on the desk close to the door.
“Yes, under the name ‘Monroe’.” Devon said.
“Great, we had a table set up for you by the window, but I’ve got a better spot for you.” She said with a cheeky grin before turning on her heel and leading them through the restaurant.
Eyes tracked their progress and Jesse tightened her hand on the men’s arms as she fought not to pull at her dress, to wrap her arms around herself to hide all her horrible lumps and bumps.
“Here we go.” Lucy said as they reached a table on the far side of the restaurant, far away from prying eyes.
.”Thank you.” Jesse said as Lucy pulled her chair out.
“Your welcome. By the way, you look spe-fucking-tacular.” Lucy said softly to Jesse with a big smile.
“So do you.” Jesse told her unable to help but smile at the young girl.
“I know.” She said softly, giving a playful wink, before looking at Devon and Jax who had settled into their chairs on either side of Jesse,” I trust you three will enjoy your dinner.”
“Who was that?” Devon asked once Lucy was out of earshot.
“Don’t you remember? She was the girl who served us at that little Italian place we were at yesterday. The Italian Oven, I think it was called.”
“Really?” The brothers said together, looking surprised.
Jesse, herself, was surprised that they didn’t remember the pretty girl.
“How could you forget a gorgeous person like her?” She asked only to suddenly find herself trapped into place by two pairs of blue eyes with the exact same intense look in them.
“We had someone better to look at.” Devon said, shifting his chair closer to hers, his eyes never leaving her face.
“Someone so sexy, that it’s always difficult to keep our hands to ourselves.” Jax added as he too, moved his chair closer to hers.
Jesse suddenly found herself growing hot as Jax ran a finger down her soft cheek and down her neck to rest on his mark on her neck. Devon, however, had different ideas as his hand slipped up her leg that had been exposed due to the slit.
Her breath caught as his fingers brushed against her hot core. Then it sped up once again as he continued to rub his fingers harder and harder against her, catching the swollen nub of her clit every time. Jax kissed her neck, scraping his teeth softly on her skin.
“Hi, my name is-“
“Go away.” Devon demanded harshly as the voice interpreted the spell he and Jax were weaving around Jesse. No one even looking up to see if the guy had done what Devon had said.
“Same as always I see, Lover.” A husky, female voice said and everyone froze.
Devon lifted his head and turned it slightly but kept his hand where it was. The look on his face was pleasantly blank but Jesse knew him well enough to see the anger underlying that mask. Glancing to the side, Jesse saw the same look on Jax’s face.
Dragging in a deep breath, Jesse tilted her head and looked up at the most beautiful woman Jesse had ever seen in her life.