CHAPTER 005: THE HEAT BETWEEN US

I lost my confidence the day I couldn’t fit into the pretty blouse Aunt May got for me, but Sally fit into it perfectly. Plus, the constant comments that she was a “pretty bird” and I was… well, me.

I wasn’t ugly. In fact, I’d call myself pretty enough too. But no one saw that, because I’m not below a size twelve. And when Scottie dumped me in that park, the confidence I’d struggled to build for years came crashing down.

“Gimme something, anything!” I pace around, hand stretched out as I search for a stable connection. Aunt May had called minutes ago. I’d missed it because I was… busy.

“Yes!” I jump when a signal comes on. Immediately I tap on Aunt May’s number. It starts ringing. She picks up in a second.

“Aunt May?”

“Belle? Oh my God, it's Belle! She’s calling!” She squeals excitedly and I smile, exhaling with relief.

“I am so sorry, there’s little to no WiFi over here.” I tell her, glancing at the door every second, expecting Jaxon to walk in.

“Where the fuck are you, and who’s that sexy hunk that got us help?” I hear Sally’s annoying voice and I roll my eyes.

“There’s a lot to explain, but I can’t right now,” I tell them.

“Why? Are you in danger? Has he abducted you?” Aunt May quizzes.

Danger? Jaxon does look dangerous… but in a sexy way.

“Oh no, no, he’s uh…” I think for a moment. “Tending to my wounds. I got injured.”

“Oh no! Is it really bad?” It’s Aunt May asking, of course. Sally could care less.

“A little bit. I can walk, and he’s super nice. There’s nothing to worry about.” Except me riding his monster of a cock.

“Where exactly are you?!” Sally asks. Why do I feel she’s asking because she wants to see Jaxon?

“Somewhere in the woods, but it’s a nice cabin, and Jaxon seems like he knows his way around here.”

“Ouuu, Jaxon. So that’s his name,” she hums. A flicker of panic stings my chest as I imagine Jaxon completely smitten by Sally’s beauty just like everyone else is.

“Belle! Can you give him the phone?” Aunt May asks. She’s very worried.

“He’s not here right now, but I promise I’m safe, okay? I’ll be home soon,” I assure her, a small ache in my chest as I think of home. So many memories.

“Just tell us where you are, sweetheart.”

“Oh stop asking her, Aunt. She can stay there for the whole of January too.” I hear Sally snort. Evil witch of the West. “I’m just more curious about Jaxon,” she drawls, and ewww… my stomach churns from disgust.

“Sally, stop it!” Aunt May reprimands her, but she only laughs. Sometimes I wonder how Austin feels whenever she gushes over other men. How pathetic.

“I have to go now, Aunt. Love you.”

“Love you too, sweetie. Stay safe and don’t go out there without Mr. Jaxon.”

“Course she can. He’s not her protector.”

“Sally, the woods can be dangerous!”

“What’s more dangerous than a girl Belle’s size, she’s literally a—”

I end the call and toss the phone onto the bed, my chest tight with that familiar low feeling. Why was Sally this way? She gets worse every year.

God, I wish so badly we weren’t sisters. She’s the most disgusting person ever. Out of anger, I kick my foot into the stool and get a painful jolt in return.

“Ouch!” I groan and fall on my butt. I grab my foot and blow on my stinging toes. Just then, the door opens and Jaxon comes in.

He’s in a tight black shirt and a pair of combat trousers. His hair is still wet and the green of his eyes are brighter. He’s looking at me like he’s not really sure what’s happening, and strangely, it makes me want to laugh. I cough and get up on my feet, wincing a little. His gaze makes me feel all dainty and nervous, my eyes tracking every movement of his big chest.

God, I want this sexy man.

“You okay?” He moves toward me.

“Yeah, I just…” I stop talking when he crouches before me and holds my thigh with one hand, his other hand grabbing my ankle as he assesses my calf. Oh God, I’m melting.

“Does your calf still hurt?” He looks up, and damn, he still looks so big and intimidating down there.

“A little,” I rasp shakily.

He nods and assesses my calf once more, like a concerned dad. Why is he so… daddy?

“The pain will go down,” he mutters, and his hand slides off my thigh. His touch left a burning sensation on my skin.

“Yeah.” My voice is barely heard. I press my thighs together, waiting for him to straighten up, but he doesn’t.

In fact, he stiffens. I frown, watching him below. He starts sniffing next, like he’s trying to sniff something out. My heart pounds when he brings his nose just near my crotch.

I try to speak but I’m speechless. This is quite strange. It seems animalistic—in a very hot way. My knees go weak and I start to burn. My vision starts to swim. Why is Jaxon smelling my cunt? Can he smell the orgasm I had minutes ago?

Oh God, this feels really weird—and good. The noises he’s making as he drags in his breath, inhaling my scent down there. I moan a little when his fingers start to brush up my thighs, heat sliding low in my stomach. I reach to grab his hair but then I stop myself. What the fuck am I doing? What the fuck are we doing?

As if he heard my thoughts, he stands up quickly and my eyes widen at his scowl, the tightness in his jaw, the way his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, the way his chest is heaving. I lick my lips when his eyes fall on them. He reflexively licks his too. I feel the heat radiating off him. He makes me feel warmer than the fireplace. He makes me feel all kinds of things, and from how hard he’s breathing like an animal, I think I’m making him feel all kinds of things too.

Fuck. What kind of man is this and where has he been all my life? Why is there just so much tension between us? It makes me want to go crazy. Can he just touch me already? I’m literally burning up!

“I prepared you a warm bath.” His voice comes out strangled, like he’s in pain. I don’t even dare glance down to see if he’s hard... for me.

“Thank you.” I nod frantically, swallowing past the dryness in my throat.

Jaxon nods too and steps away, his eyes still on me like he can’t look away. In fact, he takes a slow, deliberate scan of my whole body. I can’t help but shiver.

I feel beautiful. Sexy, even. Does he like me? My body? Does he consider me sexy? He does seem like the kind of man that likes some meat on his bones.

He goes to a closet and brings out some stuff—a set of pink pajamas with white poker dots, a red hoodie and some junks.

He bought me junks? Scottie always said I was too fat to eat any.

“I also got you a fresh set of pajamas and a hoodie from the store.” He talks too fast, putting them one by one on the bed, breathing loud like he’s out of breath. Am I making him nervous? Me? Making a man like Jaxon nervous?

“There’s a store around here?” I ask, trying not to sound as flustered as I look.

He straightens up with his hands on his hips, licking his lips as our eyes lock again. I squirm.

“It’s down the lonely road." He explains. I nod once. "I don’t know if you'd like some gummy bears or chocolates or…”

“I do. I like them all,” I tell him with a smile.

He smiles too, pauses, then exhales loudly like he’s trying to relax.

“If you need anything else, write a list and I’ll go get them.”

There’s nothing sexy about what he just said, but damn, I feel something drip from my core and down my thigh. He’s protective and a provider? Thank you, Santa.

“Thank you. These are lovely.” I stretch to pick up the pajamas. It’s a lovely set.

“Great, uh…” He looks around, scratching his head. I press my lips together so I don’t laugh at how cute he looks right now.

“I’ll be outside,” he tells me with a boyish smile. I glance at his stubbled jaw and I imagine it scratching my inner thighs as he… eats. Eats my kitty cat, duh.

“Kay.” I whisper, holding his gaze. It feels like he’s kissing every part of me with his fiery eyes.

“All right then.” He waves and moves along, shutting the door behind him.

In one, two, three seconds, I exhale loudly, finally able to breathe properly. I squeal and jump into the bed, pressing my pajamas to my face.

I can’t believe my luck. Me? Never anyone’s type. Always the second choice. But this jaw-dropping man seems to want me.

Jaxon is perfect. Jaxon is all I ever wanted. Imagine a man straight out of your fantasy wanting you just as much as you want him.

It’s indescribable.

But then, a doubtful feeling sinks in and my smile disappears.

“What if this is all in my head? What if, like Scottie, Jaxon thinks I’m unattractive?” I whisper to myself.

And just like that, my insecurities ruin my giddy mood.