The Next Contestant (10 page)

Jax steps away from me and grabs the plate of food. “It’s a bit hot in here but the food is getting cold.”

A bit embarrassed that I didn’t stop him first, I grab the cold plate and the tortillas and follow him to the booth. After setting the contents in my hands on the table, I purposely slide into the seat opposite of Jax. He grins devilishly at me as if he knows what his touch was doing to me. Tease!

OUR DINNER WAS
fantastic. I’m so full and a little tipsy after the third glass of Dom that I polished off.

Jax pushes our plates aside and leans forward, elbows on the table, chin resting on his folded hands. He stares at me intently as he speaks. “So tell me, Timber, are you an only child or do you have siblings?”

“I have—” Crap. I almost screwed up! Timber has no siblings. She’s a spoiled bitch. “I have none. I’m an only child. I’ve always wanted a big brother though.” Kolby is a great brother, aside from his overprotectiveness.

I glance at Jax and admire his handsome face. “How about you?”

Jax stretches his hands out, cups my cheeks and pulls me face-to-face close. “No siblings. I had a brother, but he passed away when I was eight. He was three years older than me and gave me my first taste of soccer. He would have been a pro. Even at nine, he lived and breathed soccer. It was devastating for all of us when he started to get sick. Mason died two years after he was diagnosed with Leukemia.”

My heart sinks. I can’t even imagine how awful it would be to lose your sibling. I think of Kolby and how terrible it would be if he died. It brings tears to my eyes.

“Hey,” Jax says as he brushes his thumbs tenderly under my eyes. “I didn’t mean to upset you. It was a long time ago. I miss him, and always will, but my life is good. My parents are awesome so don’t feel sorry for me.” His smile is just as tender as his touch.

We stare at each other for a while, until our moment is interrupted.

“Can I get you anything else,” the waiter asks.

“A glass of water, please?” I’m thirsty and the wine isn’t quenching my thirst. If anything it makes my mouth a bit dry.

“I’m good,” Jax says and pulls his credit card from his wallet.

The waiter takes it, ducks his head, turns on his heel and leaves. A few minutes later, he returns with a glass of water, sets it in front of me along with a straw. He sets Jax’s credit card and receipt on the end of the table and leaves.

After inserting the straw, I lean forward and suck in the cold wetness the ice water offers. I lift my eyes to find Jax staring at me. I suddenly feel nervous and begin chewing on my straw.

Jax’s eyes shift to the straw. “Are you still hungry?” He’s staring at my lips.

“No, why?”

“You’re gnawing on that straw awfully hard.”

“Oh. Sorry.” I chew on it again and then release it.

“I can think of other ways to keep your mouth busy.” He grins.

“Such a pervert.”

“You’re right. I am.” He stretches his arms along the small table, grasps my fidgeting hands, pulls them to his lips, and kisses every one of my fingers. His lips are so soft, so sexy and his eyes hold me captive. “No need to be nervous. I’ll try not to bite you. Until later.” And the way he smiles, so seductively it’s sinful, then he slowly releases my hands, leaps from his seat and proffers his hand.

“Sweetheart. We’ve been subpoenaed.”

“What?” But before I can question him further, he sweeps me onto my feet and leads me out of the room and down a long winding hall.

I hear music and know instantly a bar is at the end of this walkway.

Reaching the dance floor, Jax laces his hand with mine, wraps his free arm around my waist and brings me flush against him. We sway to the music.

“You ready to party?”

I pin Jax with narrowed eyes. “What are you up to?”

He raises our now clasped hands over my head and twirls me. Then he leans over me, forcing me into a low dip. Bringing me upright, he quickly brushes his lips over my mouth, then wiggles his brows. “Let the fun begin.”

He spins me around and pulls me into him, my back flush with his chest, and palms the exposed flesh on my belly. We dance slowly like this for a while. God he’s beautiful, heated, sexy, sinful. I bet he’s a fantastic lover. Every move… sensual yet dangerous—I have to stop! Stop thinking like this. I feel the sticky wetness between my thighs and it’s not good because I want him to do things to me.

Jax’s arms are wrapped around me and we’re slowly swaying to the music. I lean into his chest and he brushes the hair away from my neck, firmly planting his lips against the exposed flesh. A new shiver spreads throughout my body, but not from the cold. I’m tempted to turn around and devour him.

He’s doing it again, that frustratingly good sensation of his lips nipping and sucking on my neck, but this time, he slides his hand under the hem of my shirt and caresses the flesh of my lower abdomen. He slides it up further and dips his fingers into my bra. Good thing we’re in a dark, semi private area of the dance floor so no one can see the naughty things he’s doing. I have to bite my tongue when he slides his hand down below the waistband of my jeans, fingers running slightly below my panties.

Pushing his hand a little further down, he whispers huskily against the shell of my ear. “I want you… so fuckin’ bad.”

How do I reply to that?
Feelings mutual, Mr. Nash.
Yeah, that won’t work, so I stay quiet, but I can’t stop thinking about it, how he’d touch me, what he’d feel like inside of me. I feel a tug in my lower abdomen at the thought and I smile inwardly.

We dance, we relax, we dance, and close the bar down. I’m so exhausted, yet every cell within me is alive. I’ve never had so much fun on a date. We finally head out.

After we get in his car, Jax leans back against the door, and lets his head fall back against the window. “Before you say no, I want you to know I’ll be alone mostly. The guys are all leaving and Kolby is going out of town next weekend. Soooo,” he pauses, “I want you to come to the frat house. It’ll be just the two of us.”

“I wish I could, and I would say yes, but I’ve got a family deal going on. Can’t get out of it. Sorry.”

Jax’s turns in his seat, latches his seatbelt, and starts the car. He doesn’t say much, but only looks on as he drives ahead. I wonder if I said or did something wrong, but I’m not about to ask. I close my eyes and let my mind wander. I feel a familiar ache in my heart. I’m getting too attached to him.

When the car comes to a halt, I open my eyes and I raise my head. We’re at the dorms.

“THAT WAS A
quick ride,” Timber says, attempting to break the silence between us.

I nod.

She stares at me and I can tell she’s uncertain of what to do. Why am I treating her this way? I’m irritated that she won’t come to the fraternity house. She could cancel her plans. I mean, how often am I alone there? Never. And the one opportunity I can offer her, she says she’s got plans already. Okay, so I’m being a dick and she doesn’t deserve it.

Leaning forward, she snatches her purse, and slips out of the car. “Goodnight,” she says but doesn’t look back.

“Wait,” I holler as she nears the entrance. Then she turns slightly to find me rushing toward her.

“Yeah?” Timber asks in a wobbly voice.

I reach for her hand and lift it to my lips. I kiss her fingers softly. “Sorry.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

I drop her hand. “Yes.”

Her head falls, and she stares intently at her feet. In a meek voice, she asks, “What did I do?”

I reach my arms around her and pull her into me. Then I lean in and nuzzle my nose into her neck.

She tries to push my head away. “That gives me the chills,” she says.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, but I don’t like what you’re doing to me.” I bite the sensitive skin between her neck and collarbone.

“Why are you mad at me then?”

I run my thumb over her lips. “Sh.” I lean in and capture her mouth with fierce urgency.

God, I want her. With every stroke of my hands, she melts further into me and pants breathlessly.

“I can’t get enough of you.” I twirl a section of her hair around my fingers. “I know you have to go, so I’ll be on my way, but when can I see you again?”

She clears her throat. “Uh... well... after I return from my mini vacation home?”

“I can’t wait.”

“Me neither.”

I stroke her cheeks with my thumbs before dropping my hands to hers. Shaking my head, I tell her, “I’ve got to get out of here. Now.” Then I release her and head toward my car.

I watch her step behind the glass door and peek over her shoulder at me. With a jaunty wave, she turns and disappears.

IT’S FRIDAY NIGHT
and I can’t get Timber out of my head. Since she is out of town, I do the next best thing. I call her.

“I love the taste of your lips, your tongue, your neck, your skin—” She starts laughing. “What… why are you laughing?”

She inhales and exhales. “I’m… well… okay so I laugh when I get nervous… and I… and… well, I’m also swooning over your compliments. You’re so nice, sweet… different.”

“Different? As in different from your previous boyfriends?”

“Yeah, kind of. Well, yes, but different, not like the rumors I’ve heard about you.”

Ah, yeah. Different since she walked into my life. She makes me want to change, to be good, to be hers and hers alone. Nothing else matters anymore, nothing but her. And then I wonder what the hell I’m getting myself into. What the hell am I doing?

“Hey,” she whispers.

“Hey,” I mimic her.

“Did… did I say something wrong… or was that too much info?”

“No. Not at all. Why?”

She clears her throat. “You kind of went silent after my confession.”

“No, beautiful. I’m thinking about you, about how perfect you are, and wondering how the hell I got lucky enough to find you.” I pause. There’s static on her end and I’m certain she just covered the speaker on her phone while she lets out a nervous giggle.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hey,” she repeats, her voice soft and sexy.

I can’t help it. I give a little moan. “I can’t wait to see you, to touch you, run my lips over yours, down your neck, across your collarbone—”

She inhales sharply and now I wonder if I’ve went too far.

“I… I have to go,” –definitely too far– “…can’t wait to see you, too,” she whispers.

I hear someone knock on her door and then, “Hey, you decent?” a guy asks. His voice is familiar, but I can’t quite place it.

“I’ve got to go. Talk to you soon,” she mumbles and hangs up.