I mean, do you say thank you for something like that?

“How are you feeling?” he asks softly, tucking some of my hair behind my ear.

“Um…”

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He searches my face and eyes.

“No, no…it was good.”

“Good?” he asks with a smile that looks a little too cocky. “You were convulsing and screaming. Baby, if that was good, I wonder what great is like for you.”

“It was good.” I roll my eyes. I mean, for all I know, it was mediocre, seeing how it was my first orgasm. There could be better, though I doubt that’s true. I know the ladies at the salon I worked at were constantly bitching about their husbands and lack of orgasms they received, and it seems to me Jax knows exactly what to do.

“We’re going to have to work on that then,” he says, nuzzling my neck.

“I have to get ready for work,” I breathe, tilting my head back then rolling it so he can kiss up the under side of my jaw.

“Me too,” he groans, sounding disappointed.

“I didn’t know you wear glasses,” I say, opening my eyes and lifting my hand, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“I need them for the computer.” He smiles. “Do you like them?”

“They’re okay.” I shrug.

“Just okay?” he asks as his hands move up my sides like he’s going to tickle me.

“How can you fit in your car or through doors with your giant head?”

“You haven’t even seen how big my head is, baby.” He smiles, raising his hips, which causes the large head of his cock to brush against my side, sending goose bumps over my skin.

“You’re so cocky,” I mutter then press my lips together when I realize how it sounded. “I didn’t mean like that.” I shake my head when he begins to laugh.

“If we didn’t have to work, I’d show you how cocky I am.”

“You’re cheesy too,” I say, fighting back a smile.

“And you’re beautiful when you come,” he says, getting onto his knees and pushing me back until I’m lying on the hardwood floor with him over me, his hands holding mine above me against the wood.

“Jax,” I whisper as his knees slide between mine.

“I love when you say my name like that, out of breath, like you’re begging me to kiss and touch you,” he says before his mouth lowers over mine, kissing me thoroughly then moving down my cheek to my ear, where he growls, “I’m taking you out tonight, and you need to wear a dress.”

“July asked me to go to the shop tonight,” I say breathlessly as his mouth moves down my jaw then neck, where he nips me hard enough to sting.

“We’ll go there after we have dinner.”

“Hope,” I whimper as his hands move up my side, under my shirt.

“Mom and Dad’ll watch her,” he says as his mouth nips my earlobe.

“I hate leaving her,” I tell him truthfully.

His face moves to hover over me and his eyes search mine. I see something there that gives me pause and makes me feel warm all over. “You can have a night, baby. We’ll pick her up early tomorrow morning.”

“Over night?” I whisper, feeling my heart begin to pound against my ribs.

“Over night, but remember we’re taking this slow. It’s a date then hanging out with friends, and maybe some snuggling if you’re nice to me,” he says with a peck.

Pressing my lips together to keep from smiling, I mutter, “If they don’t mind watching her, then okay.” I wrap my legs around his waist while moving my hands over the skin of his back. “But the snuggling is negotiable.”

Smiling, he rocks against me, causing his length to rub against me through the material of my pants and a moan to climb up my throat.

Smirking, he murmurs, “I’ll convince you to cuddle.”

“Maybe,” I whisper, finally giving in to my smile.

His face goes soft and his hands frame my face while his eyes move over my hair, eyes, and then mouth. “I like seeing you like this,” he says as he kisses my lips then moves his mouth down my chin to my neck. His hands move, cupping my breasts, making my knees weak and my core tighten.

“I have to get ready for work,” I moan in both frustration and relief. I don’t know if I’m ready to open myself up to him, especially when he doesn’t know everything. I don’t think there is any way for me to hide the fact I’m a virgin, and once he knows that, he’s going to know about Hope. I need to tell him, but I’m so scared.

Knifing off me, he pulls me up to stand, asking, “What time do you get off tonight?” as his hands smooth down my hair and his eyes search my face.

“We close the shop at seven. Is that too late to have dinner?”

“No, and just let me know when you can get lunch, and I’ll bring Hope by so we can spend some time with her, since we won’t see her until tomorrow.”

“I would love that,” I say quietly through the tears lodged in my throat.

“Go get ready, and I’ll drop you off at work then just pick you up at seven.”

“Please…?” I prompt, narrowing my eyes.

“I don’t mind staying here and using your body as entertainment for the rest of the day,” he says with a shrug, while his eyes sweep over me once more, causing my nipples to harden and the place his fingers just were to contract.

“I…I’m gonna go get…get ready,” I stutter out then take off up the stairs, listening to his laughter follow me as I shut the door for the bathroom behind me and lean back against it, breathing heavily. I’m so far over my head it’s not even funny.

*

“That was Jax Mayson,” Kim whispers to me as I set my bag down on my station. “He just kissed you.” She blinks at me then looks at the door Jax just left out of. Biting my lip, I nod, because I can’t exactly lie. Jax insisted on walking me into the salon, and when I tried to give him a casual goodbye, he grabbed onto the back of my jeans and hauled me against him so he could kiss me in a way that let everyone know we were more than friends. “I thought he’s with Mellissa.”

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly as annoyance washes over me. I don’t even think I’m jealous about the whole Mellissa thing really. I’m annoyed she thinks she has some claim over him, when he has made it clear she doesn’t. “He’s not. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I know what Jax has told me, and I believe him.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean anything by it,” she says, wrapping her hand around my arm. “I don’t know him; I just know of him, because I’ve seen him around and she tells everyone they’re together.”

“It’s fine, and I know. It’s just crazy. Why would you push yourself on someone who’s not interested in you?” I ask, watching as her face loses some of its color. “What’s wrong?”

“Do you know Jax’s cousin Sage?” she asks quietly, moving to stand in front of the mirror between our stations, pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, and I notice her hands are shaking.

“A little, but really, things have been so busy that every time I’ve seen him, it’s just been hi and bye. Why?” I ask, wondering what she could possibly have against Sage. He’s always nice to me, and he’s so good with Hope, who loves him.

“I have a sister,” she whispers.

“I didn’t know you have a sister,” I mutter, watching her bite the inside of her cheek.

“We’re identical twins, and she’s not exactly a good person. Don’t get me wrong; I love her, because we’re blood, but she’s…” She pauses and her eyes meet mine in the mirror once more. “She has some problems.”

“Oh.” I know exactly what she’s saying. I have a whole family full of people with problems.

“My sister had a run-in with Sage before she left town,” she says then drops her eyes, along with her voice. “She tried to roofie him when they were at the same bar.”

“What?” I breathe, covering my mouth.

“Yeah,” she whispers with tears in her eyes. “She was going to get him alone and get his wallet…I don’t know exactly, but he caught her when she was trying to mess with his drink. And now he thinks I’m her.”

“Maybe you could tell him it wasn’t you.”