On the Rox Page 7

  “Okay. Maybe a few are significant,” I sighed. “Are you trying to be scared away again?”

  “Like I said, you can’t scare me. My life hasn’t been picture-perfect either.”

  I hesitated before I turned away from him, lifting my hair and rolling over to show him my latest tattoo. I had gone straight to the tattoo parlor with Betty the day after I found the courage to leave Tommy.

  “This one. On the back of my neck. Closest to my brain, so I don’t make another dumb mistake. Check it out.”

  I heard a sudden, sharp intake of breath as he ran his fingertips over my raven.

  “What’s a matter? You think ravens are creepy? You know, they are super-smart birds,” I said to an awkward silence. “Did I finally scare you away?” I turned my head to make sure he hadn’t disappeared.

  He hadn’t said a word, and I was beginning to second-guess that I really did have a raven on the nape of my hairline and not something crazy, like a gerbil or a banana.

  “It’s beautiful,” he said, moving in closer to me. His breath tickled my ear, sending a vibration down my body. “So, what does your raven mean?”

  “Nevermore,” I whispered.

  He put his palm on my shoulder, turning me to meet his eyes. He didn’t ask questions, and he didn’t make jokes. Instead, he held me there, tight, in the moment. My body began to wake again as he pulled the covers from atop me and swept his gaze up and down my very exposed and very vulnerable being.

  “Kintsugi,” he whispered, brushing his lips against mine and crawling on top of me.

  I gave in, letting out a breath I’d held on for far too long. I let him fuck me slowly.

  Five

  Jay

  I hadn’t meant to fall asleep at Rox’s house, but between her feathered bed and her soft breaths, I’d been lulled into sleeping like the dead. I hadn’t woken up once in the middle of the night, whereas at my house, I woke every hour on the hour.

  The filtered sunlight peeking through the blinds woke me up from my deep sleep. I rubbed my eyes and crept as quietly as I could out of bed, slipping on my pants.

  “Mmm,” Rox sighed from beneath the covers.

  I glanced over at her small frame, lost in the mountain of pillows and blankets. For an inked-up badass, at that moment, she looked as tiny and frail as a bird—a raven. Tough as nails but still fragile.

  “Jay?” she called, reaching out beside her to an empty bed.

  “Shh. Go back to sleep. I’ve got to do my morning run. I’ll text you later.” I smoothed her hair back from her face and smiled.

  “Okay. You don’t have to ask me to sleep. On it.” She pulled the covers up to her chin and, oddly enough, fell right back to sleep. Immediately.

  Her breaths deepened, and her nose whistled out a tune that sent me into silent giggles. I shook my head and tiptoed out of her room.

  I snuck out the side door, making sure I locked it behind me, and headed home to dress in my running gear. I needed to clear my head of everything that had happened last night. Every. Wonderful. Thing. And what it meant.

  Did it mean anything? The raven tattoo?

  My hair stood on end as I shivered, rubbing the back of my neck.

  Last night had felt good—too good. Rox fit perfectly into my arms throughout the night. Her body melted into mine, and all I could think about before we drifted off to sleep was when she told me she didn’t want to make a dumb mistake again. She never explained her situation, but I slowly began to put the pieces together between some of our conversations and her work at the women’s shelter. I had pulled her in tight to me right before my eyes shut for the night. I wanted to wrap her up and keep her safe.

  I greeted the damp morning air with a grimace. It was April and yet still chilly outside until about mid-morning. The weather back home wasn’t anything like this. I preferred the familiar Australian heat to the dewy, cold mist of Outer Forks. The spring chill was for the birds.

  Birds.

  The birds chirped in the trees as the sun began to rise behind the park. I expected and hoped for a full-on morning serenade as I ran through the hills. I never ran with headphones in and music blaring. I preferred silence or the sounds of the forest. I listened intently to my surroundings. Maybe, with this peaceful morning, my brain would clear enough to show some clarity on my new life and if I was headed in the right direction—which I hoped was settling down for good. I perked my ears as I entered the park. Maybe the call of a raven would lead me to where I needed to go.

  I quickened my pace and bolted off through the trails.

  I made it into work before the brunch rush. The smell of freshly squeezed orange juice and champagne instantly energized my spent body. Last night, I’d blown the life force out of me three times, and this morning, I’d hit the pavement with complete mental exhaustion. I felt sluggish, rolling into work, but the energy of Scarlett Herb zapped me back on my toes.

  I headed toward the kitchen and opened the swinging doors to the chaos that was brunch. This type of wild was the only chaos I liked, and even I couldn’t take too much of it. My pace had always been slow and steady in the background. Throwing me into the mess would be even crazier, but my consulting and management skills seemed to calm the most hectic of days for everyone.

  I had heard that compliment often—that I was a calm presence. My demeanor was kind, gentle, empathetic, and peaceful. I was happy enough with those compliments, but I also wished I had heard I rocked between the sheets or I was toe-curling or something more attractive than nice.

  “Morning, Jay!” My brother shoved an apron in my hand. “Prep work. We’re shorthanded today. It’s all you! Start chopping.”

  He snapped his fingers together and danced around. I wondered if he’d gotten laid last night too.

  “Great. Because I’d love to stand on my feet some more after that run in the woods earlier.” I sighed.

  I tied the apron around my waist, washed my hands, and began to work. The fast-paced action helped the morning pass by quicker than anticipated. By the time I finished dicing eighty-two thousand onions, my eyes were swollen red and on fire. I rubbed them, like a dumbass, and made the pain even worse.

  “Back in a moment,” I squealed at the team as I stumbled my way to the restroom. I could barely see my way around with my stinging, watery eyes.

  “Jay! Just who I wanted to see,” a familiar voice called from behind me.

  I squinted and turned to see Betty standing in the corridor, her hands crossed over her chest. There was something in the way she smiled that made me think it was more of a snarl or a warning. My butt involuntarily clenched.

  “Oh, hey! Betty. How are you? Are you here for brunch?” I asked.

  “Have you been crying? Wow, she really must have done a number on you last night. Maybe I don’t need to have this talk with you after all.” Betty stepped closer to me, putting her hands on my shoulders and searching my face.

  I looked at her through the swollen slits of my eyes and shook my head. “What? No! I’ve not been crying. I was chopping onions. What do you mean, a talk? Rox did something? I’m confused.” I pressed the heel of my palms to my eyes, hoping that would make the stinging go away.

  “You don’t have goggles? We have some in the truck. I’ll grab them. Stay there. Or … go rinse your eyes or something. I’ll be right back. Don’t go hiding either. I still need to have a word with you. We all do.”

  “All?”

  “Think DTF doesn’t travel in packs? Boy, bye. Be right back!”

  I splashed cold water on my eyes and studied myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe she’d thought I had been crying. Not that I had a hard time crying. Those damn Hallmark movies got me every time.

  What did she mean by saying Rox did a number on me?

  I leaned into the sink and hung my head, not yet ready to find out what kind of conversation waited for me on the other side of the door.

  Betty cracked the restroom door open and yelled inside, “What in the he
ll are you doing in there? Come on out here. We got business to handle!”

  I yelped and made my exit.

  “Took long enough.”

  “My eyes were on fire! I had to fix them,” I whispered in a shaky voice.

  We stood, pushing ourselves against the wall in the narrow hallway as a few customers filed in and out of the restrooms.

  “Here.” She handed me a pair of goggles. “It’s for cutting onions. You’re welcome.”

  “That’s genius. Thanks. I appreciate it.” I pressed my lips together and nodded, reaching out for them before she snatched her hand back.

  “But first, Rox. I’m assuming y’all hooked up last night?”

  Betty narrowed her eyes at me, and I instantly felt my balls tighten. Her fierce expression that played across her face cracked a whip, like a rubber band popping me in the nuts.

  “Well, I’m not sure what kind of men are around here, but I’m a gentleman, and I don’t kiss and tell.” I lowered my voice as yet another customer squeezed past us.

  “Cut the shit. I know Rox. She looked at you like she wanted to eat you up. Whatever you told her worked. I’m just here to tell you, watch it. I don’t know if you know any of this, but she’s been healing from a terrible relationship.”

  “Nevermore,” I muttered, my heart dropping into my stomach.

  “She told you?”

  “Well, no. Not really. She showed me her raven tattoo but didn’t elaborate. I’m smart enough not to push her into explaining. I assumed she had been through some bad shit. Especially considering how much she is invested into the shelter and all.”

  “You ain’t lying. Rox has been through hell, and DTF won’t let her do it again. Understood? So, if you come up over here, talking all that sexy, wet-panty Crocodile Dundee talk, and then hurt her, I will cut you up and serve your ass on a taco. New taco on our menu. He Should Have Stayed in Oz taco. Extra salty.”

  I glanced down the hall toward the exit. My balls had shriveled up so far into my body that I was sure they were hiding in my throat, making it hard for me to swallow. This was the exact reason I had played it safe with the bubbly women who wouldn’t dare hurt a fly—except Elena. She had broken my heart in two. I couldn’t win for losing. Maybe I’d had it all wrong.

  “I am not that type of man. I like Rox. A lot. I would never hurt her or anyone. I think, if anything, she might be the one to hurt me. She tried pushing me away several times last night.” I noticed Betty’s fists clench. “Not physically!” I continued. “Definitely not physically, but mentally. She kept going on and on about how I wouldn’t want her or she might scare me away. But I do want her. It’s the oddest thing ever. I’m terrified of her yet enthralled by her. I feel … connected to her somehow.”

  “It’s the crystals.” Nikki popped up behind me, shaking a crystal that hung around her neck. “I’ve been using them more often, and we have them all over the truck. Rox even grabbed one, although she grabbed orange carnelian, which is good for sex. I’m guessing it worked since we are all here today, as per Betty’s orders.”

  “It worked! I can see it in his eyes. He has been crying. He feels so strongly about her!” Layla piped in.

  Betty rolled her eyes and said, “Layla, he’s been cutting onions,” before turning back to me and lowering her voice. “Don’t hurt her. She’s fragile.”

  “Like a bird.” I nodded, meeting her eyes.

  “Like a bomb,” Nikki said, twirling her crystal necklace around her finger and staring me down.

  “I think he’s got the point, ladies. Let’s make some Shizzle! Point us to the kitchen Jay man! I didn’t mean to scare you!” Betty put her arms around me, bringing me in for a hug. “I’ll skin your Crocodile Dundee ass into a new alligator handbag. Don’t you forget it,” she whispered before letting me go and smiling.

  I tried to smile back, but all I could manage was a whimper.

  “Jay?” Aiden stuck his head out of the kitchen doors. “You okay? We need you in here.”

  I wanted to mouth, Help, but instead, I introduced him to our new business partners.

  “How can we help?” Layla walked over to Aiden and adjusted her V-neck sweater that clung to her well-rounded chest.

  “Right this way.” Aiden stepped aside and held the door open for DTF. His eyes hadn’t left Layla. They followed her, lingering on her hips as she sauntered past him.

  “So, this is Scarlett Herb. Y’all must cook with a lot of saffron to name it after a red herb!” Layla tilted her head to Aiden.

  “Actually, no. Scarlett was my mother’s name, and Herb was my father.” Aiden nodded, still smiling. “Welcome to my dungeon, ladies. I’ll show you the ropes, and you can make your Shizzle Sauce. Just be warned: you came at brunch rush. It could get a bit chaotic in here!”

  “Oh, Aiden. We are the chaos.” Nikki shook her head and grabbed an apron.

  “We’ll be on our best behavior. Your boy Terrance hooked us up with some of them fancy mimosas. I’d say we are all feeling fine, and we’ll be one big, happy family after today.” Betty caught my eye and winked.

  Aiden’s eyebrows rose as he looked back and forth from me to Betty. We locked eyes for a second, but in that second, we communicated silently that we might have just gotten ourselves in over our heads. No, we had definitely gotten ourselves in over our heads. For Shizzle.

  By the time DTF left, the brunch rush had quieted, and business lulled to a slow and steady pace. I could barely keep my eyes open after the chaotic morning and the non-restful night. I ducked out of the kitchen, letting Aiden know I needed a catnap and would be back shortly. I left out the part that it was because I’d stayed up all night, having a sexathon with Rox, who had worn my ass out. I had planned on being gentle and slow with her, but she’d had other plans. Not that I had anything to complain about. I liked the wild ride.

  I arrived back home in record time and made my way up to the guest room. I still hadn’t fully unpacked my master bedroom, and at this point, I didn’t care. With views straight across the way of that beautiful, inked goddess, I didn’t want to move. I stood at the window and lifted the blinds, quickly peeking out before I lay down to nap. I gasped and did a double-take into Rox’s backyard. She stood, bent over in her flowerbed, completely naked, except for a floppy sunhat. I watched her back muscles flex in the sunlight as she pulled weed after weed. My cock stirred, lengthening in my pants.

  “Fuck,” I breathed out.

  Our homes were the last ones on the street, next to the park and trails, thankfully. No one else had this view but me. Even then, I admired her bravery and confidence to put herself on display. That was something I could never do, but it must feel so … freeing.

  I pulled out my phone, texting her before realizing she had nowhere to store her phone and she wouldn’t see it.

  Me: Hey there. What’s a gorgeous woman like you doing all that dirty work for? And naked? Is this an American custom I don’t know about?

  I watched through my blinds as she rose up and walked back to her patio, picking up the phone from the edge of a chair. She glanced up to see me in the window, shook her tits, and waved.

  Rox: Happy World Naked Gardening Day! If you couldn’t already tell, I like it dirty.

  Me: And fast.

  I leaned into the window. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her. The way the sunlight sparkled on her shimmering skin sent tingles shooting up the base of my cock. I was on the verge of erupting again already.

  Rox: Do I ever! I love going fast. Spinning out of control. It’s my thing. I need the momentum to keep going.

  Me: So, that’s what happened last night? That was you going fast to keep going. I liked it. I also love taking things slow, so I can feel every vibration your body makes when I’m diving deep inside of you.

  Rox brushed the dirt off of her legs and sat on the edge of her chair before answering me.

  Rox: Wow! You have a way with words. You’re a rock star, do you know that? Thanks for last night. I neede
d it. Fast, slow. It was perfect. You’re amazing. I’ve got to finish these weeds before it rains. Storms are coming this afternoon and sticking around the rest of the week. Talk soon.

  I still peered down at her as she set the phone down and went back to digging in the dirt. She moved delicately, almost floating across her yard. I wondered how someone could be so tough yet so graceful. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my trance. Aiden’s name flashed across the screen.

  “We need you. We just booked a party of fifteen for tonight. Can you drink some coffee and come back now?” he said as soon as I answered the phone.

  “Sure, sure,” I sighed, shutting my blinds and heading back out.

  I apologized to my dick and promised it shenanigans later.

  It had been three days since I last saw Rox. I kept checking my phone to see if she’d texted, but I was only met with nothing. She hadn’t reached out to me after that naked-gardening incident even though I’d texted her to let her know our Shizzle dish was going well. She responded in short texts and emojis only. I backed off, not wanting to scare her away this time. But I couldn’t stop thinking of her and the night we’d shared. She had set up residence in my brain. She remained there since that evening at her place, a constant, warm ember lighting my body, mind, and soul. I felt more alive with her than I had felt even after traveling the entire world.

  “This is stupid,” I muttered to myself.

  I checked the time on my phone. It was a little after midnight. I tossed and turned and couldn’t get myself to sleep. Not even spanking my monkey had helped tonight. I pulled myself up from the bed and tied a robe around my waist, pacing the floor. I knew what had been keeping me up tonight. It was her—or the lack thereof. I hadn’t heard Rox’s car door slam shut yet. She wasn’t home, and it was getting late.

  My mind raced with the possibilities of her being hurt or in need of help or even in bed with another man. The hair on the back of my neck bristled. I debated on if I should check in on her or not but figured that would be not only creepy, but she might think I was nosy too.