“I want to give us another try,” he said with a beguilingsmile, his blonde hair farming his angelic face in the mostintriguing manner. “I reacted badly the other day and I’msorry.”
“No kidding, you wanted nothing to do with me. Why the changeof heart?”
Truth be told,he didn’t really know why he’d come here tonight, perhaps he wasfeeling guilty for the way he treated her. Not to mention that hestill found her incredibly appealing, even if she might be more ofa bother than he was used to.
“I fucked up.” He shrugged. “I miss you, Becks.” He suavely ranhis hand down the curve of her cheek. “Give us another shot,sweetheart. I promise things will be better this round.”
Before shecould stop herself, Becky nodded as though she were in a trance.Jax could be incredibly charming when he applied himself. Notwanting to spend the evening all by herself like a wallflower, sheagreed to take him back.
“You won’t regret it,” he said, stepping in close and leaningin for a kiss.
Standing up ontiptoes, Becky accepted his soft sweet kiss. At first, his lipswere tender and playful but soon they turned hard and demanding,his tongue invading her mouth much too eagerly. She started toprotest but soon lost herself in his heated embrace. “We’ll beamazing together, I promise you that,” he said, between torridkisses.
“Jax… stop,” she said, overwhelmed by his fervour.“Please.”
Not wanting topush his luck, Jax relaxed his hold on her. “Of course, Becky, takeas much time as you need. I have all night.”
Becky paled athis odd statement. Did he mean he expected her to sleep with himthis very night? Could she do that? No, she would tell him flat-outthat he would have to wait, at least, a few more days if notweeks.
“Um, Jax, I’m not sleeping with you tonight. You realize that,don’t you?”
Looking quiteperplexed, Jax gave his head a quick shake and took a deep calmingbreath. “Well… I uh… but you look so… I…” This, he had not seencoming. She was supposed to be so grateful to have him back thatshe would have thrown herself at him. Of course, he’d be as patientas possible, but he’d soon rid her of that pesky little cherry thatshe’d so gallantly guarded all these years. Then nothing wouldstand in the way of countless romps of pure unadulteratedpleasure.
“I won’t make you wait forever,” she said with an apologeticsmile. “Just until we get to know each other better.”
“And just how long do you think that’ll take?” he asked withslumped shoulders. “What do I have to do?”
Becky shruggeddisheartened by his obvious lack of sensitivity. “We could start bygoing back inside and enjoying the party together. I hear a song Ilike. Maybe we could even dance,” she said, reaching for hishand.
“Ugh, but what if one of your housemates decides to take aswing at me?”
“I’ll just explain to them that you and I are together againand they’ll have to respect that,” she said, dragging himalong.
“Together…” he grumbled, suddenly wishing he hadn’t come hereat all. He must have been out of his tree to think that he coulddeal with all this angst. Still, not wanting to be unnecessarilycruel, he reluctantly followed Becky back into the carriagehouse.
Once inside, hepulled his mask down once again and searched the room for herhousemates. The last thing he needed was to get his ass kicked,which would most definitely happen if he were to be discovered.
“Shall we dance?” Becky asked, tugging him towards themakeshift dance floor.
“Um… I’m really not much of a dancer,” Jax said, digging hisheels into the ground.
“Oh… but it’s such a nice song,” she pleaded, feeling suddenlysilly and disappointed. Hadn’t he been the one to come heretonight? Hadn’t he been the one asking for a second chance? Whythen did she feel like a beggar at his table?
“Here, come sit,” he said, leading her back where he’doriginally found her. Before she could protest, he grabbed her bythe waist and hoisted her up onto the tall counter. It was a dustyold work bench of sorts, used for storing tools and the like. Ithadn’t been cleared for the party and even now she could feel theheads of nails digging into her backside and thighs.
“Jax…” She winced, realizing that she couldn’t get down on herown without tearing her stockings, never mind her skin.
“It’s all right, Becks,” he said, slapping her on the thigh,completely oblivious to her discomfort. “I’ll just get us somepunch. Be right back.” He took off then, without a backwardsglance.
Sitting therelike a helpless ninny she watched Jax disappear into the crowd. Theentire carriage house was dark enough, but where she was, it waseven darker since that corner hadn’t been lit up for the party. Tenminutes passed and he hadn’t returned. Twenty minutes and still nosign of Jax. Getting impatient, Becky tried shuffling closer to theedge but a nail caught in her stockings and she could feel it startto dig into her flesh. Too embarrassed to call attention toherself, she visibly deflated, feeling like a complete idiot. Whenit became clear to her that she’d been abandoned, pathetic tearsthreatened to fall. She’d been played… Jax hadn’t wanted her afterall.
Realizing thatshe’d have to wait until someone came close enough for her to askfor help, Becky averted her eyes from the party and concentrated onnot crying.
“Becky?” Kell couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d been looking forher for quite some time. When he’d heard her favourite song, he’drun around hoping to ask her to dance. “What are you doing all theway back here?”
“Kelley…” He was like a dream come true. Always her hero,coming to her aid whenever she needed him most. Even now, dressedas he was in such an intimidating costume, she was never so glad tosee those blood-red streaks of hair.
“How in the world did you get up here?” he asked, stepping inclose, standing between her knees.
Looking upthrough her lashes, she spoke so quietly that he had to lean incloser to her. “Jax… he went for some punch, but never cameback.”
“Jax?” Kelley growled, looking around with a menacingglare.
“Don’t leave me, please,” she said, wrapping her arms aroundhis neck, afraid that
