The Dangerous Curves Series

Chapter 25

Aidan looked up and smiled when he saw Sarah walk into the bar.

“Hey, Red.”

“Hi.”

“You looking for the boss?”

“Yeah. Is he here?”

“Uh-huh. In his office. You want to go on down the hallway, and it’s the second door on the right.”

“Thanks.”

She walked out of the main room, felt the curious eyes on her as she went. Even though it was just past two o’clock on a Thursday, the bar was pretty busy. And lots of people looked pretty drunk. She wondered what it would be like to have a drink in the afternoon, and decided it might not be a bad thing to try once. Maybe twice.

Her heart was pounding hard and fast by the time she knocked on the office door. She heard his deep voice inside, calling her to come in. She took a deep breath, stepped into the office.

Jax was standing in front of his desk sorting through a stack of papers. He turned, and when he saw her standing there, he started.

“Sarah.”

“Hi, Jax.” She blushed. “Is now a bad time?”

“No. No, not at all. Come on in.” He waved at a leather sofa bigger than her bed, and she sat, feeling awkward and exposed. Those green eyes seemed to just burn right on through to her soul, and she looked away, flustered.

Jax sat down right next to Sarah, taking her in. She looked nervous, maybe even a bit upset, and he was suddenly certain that she was there to turn him down.

Dammit. OK, well. The least I can do is not make her feel bad about it, right? I mean, the woman had the courtesy and the guts to turn me down to my face, instead of a phone call, or just dropping off the planet.

“So, what’s up, Red?” His tone was light and teasing, to set her at ease.

“I – I… ummm.” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you about – about your offer.”

Jax leaned back. “OK.”

“I wanted to say that – that I’m incredibly flattered. And that I… ummm.” She skidded to a conversational halt, not sure how to accept without sounding cheap or desperate. Or both.

Jax gazed at her. God, she looked so worried, and he felt his heart tighten up that he’d caused any more stress or tension in her life. She didn’t need it, he knew.

“Hey,” he said gently. “It’s OK.”

She looked up at him. “What is?”

“Saying no.” He shrugged. “It was a long shot that you’d say yes.”

She started. “But – but I am saying yes.”

He c****d his head. “You are?”

“Yes. I’m – I’m saying yes.”

“To what I offered last night?”

She nodded.

Jax reached out and took her hand. “You sure, doll? You sure you can handle this? I don’t want you getting hurt.” His eyes held hers. “We do this for as long as it works for both of us, but no promises. No future. Right?”

“I know, and I’m sure.” She finally smiled at him. “I can’t do permanent, Jax, not right now. But I also can’t keep going on the way that I have. It’s becoming… unbearable.”

“What is?”

“My life.”

That stopped him. “What do you mean?”

“Just – trapped in the routine. No spontaneity or… color. You know?” She saw the worry on his face, and she rushed to reassure him. “Oh, my life isn’t black or depressing. It’s not even gray. It’s just kind of… beige. Like rice pudding. Or watered-down vanilla.”

Jax laughed.

“Beige is nice, you know,” she said. “But it’s… beige. Boring and predictable. I’d like a bit of something else once in a while.”

“I can do not-beige,” Jax said. “I can do a bit of something else.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you can.” Her blue eyes were bright and lovely. “But I do have one thing I need to ask you.”

“OK.”

“Why me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, you said that you were getting tired of the casual encounters in the back rooms, right? So… why not have something more exclusive with someone else? Someone more… experienced. Someone you already know, maybe.”

“Truth?”

“Yeah. Always, Jax.”

“Because you’re smart, and gorgeous, and tough as hell. I like that you take care of your brother and watch out for your family, and I love that you can beat me at pool, even though it’s kind of a kick to my ego.” Jax paused, decided to take the plunge. “And I want to see you naked, ‘cause, baby? I know you’re a knock-out. Your body is amazing, and I am dying to get my hands and mouth all over it. I want to make you feel good, Sarah. I want to make you feel things you’ve never felt before… things you didn’t even know you were capable of feeling.”

She stared at him now, her body heating up at his words, the area between her legs turning liquid. He saw it in her face, and his own desire flared. He reached out to her, slowly, giving her time to back up if she wanted to.

Sarah didn’t want to move anywhere. She wanted him to kiss her again.

I want him to make me feel.