Five
High Expectations
Pax ended up coming in the door late last night. I can’t be sure what time because I’d already passed out. I felt better when I woke up with him beside me but left him sleeping because he looked far too comfortable to wake. I get that he loves me, I get that he wants me to trust him, but he doesn’t know my mother the way I do. He doesn’t know the lengths she’s gone through to get what she wants.
I knew about the affairs she was having while Dad was away on business, and I kept her secrets for years because I knew it would destroy Dad. Eventually it did. I remember the exact look on Dad’s face when he found out I knew about it and never said anything. It was the same week Pax took off on one of his glory rides, and I will never forget the sound of Natasha’s blood-curdling screams when she found him dead in the garage, hanging from the rafters.
The Marron brothers’ parents were driving by just as I was walking home from the Club before sunrise that morning. We all heard Natasha’s screams and the garage door was wide open. If Jack and Jimmy hadn’t jumped out of the vehicle to stop me… I’m just glad they did.
“Good morning,” Pax says, taking a seat at the table. “You were snoring by the time I got in last night, so I decided to watch you sleep for a bit… and I guess I dozed off.”
I turn with my mug of coffee and take in his annoyingly perfect morning face.
“I don’t mind if you sleep in my bed, Pax. Do you want a cup of coffee?”
“No, I’m good thanks, and since when? You made it clear that we are roommates to the schmuck next door… doesn’t that mean I should take the sofa?”
The bad boy smirk on his face almost makes me crack a smile.
“I know what you’re doing right now, so you can cut it out.”
“What am I doing?”
Now laughing at his stupid dimpled proud smile, I take a seat.
“You’re trying to cause an argument so we can hate-fuck, and it’s not happening.”
“Is that what I’m doing?” he shrugs, acting innocent.
“Yes… but it won’t work because I’m not mad at you. I feel like I owe you an apology and an explanation.”
His brows furrow and he crosses his arms, seemingly intrigued.
“An apology and explanation for what?”
“Last night,” I sigh, trying not to look too long at his blessedly ripped body and all of his ink. “I love that you got a tattoo with my name, I really do, and I love the necklace, Pax. I wasn’t trying to be ungrateful.”
“I know,” he smiles. “I have a knack for being able to read you, Vix, and I threw you for a minute I’m sure.”
“That’s an understatement.”
He leans forward and traces the pendant with his finger.
“You know I love you don’t you? Even when we are visiting the dark city of Hate-Fuck, right?”
I nod.
“Yeah, I know… but last night when I mentioned Satan—”
“Shhh,” he hums, placing his fingers over my lips. “We don’t need to rehash last night. What we need to do is correct the situation growing in my pants.”
His wicked smile makes my heart pick up before I glance down at the swelling erection pressing against the crotch of his jeans.
“I have to go up to the house. I promised Natasha a couple of days ago that I would go through my closet with her and start sorting what clothing I want to bring out here,” I white lie.
Truthfully, there’s nothing I want to do more than fuck him right now, but I can’t. Not while knowing I gave Wallstreet a B.J. yesterday and how much that would destroy Pax. The whole “he hates lawyers” shit is really messing with me, because I know if Gabe were in any other profession, my transgression wouldn’t matter. It’s the fact I did it to one of his arch nemesis’s that has me guilt ridden.
“Alright,” Pax sighs, “then I’ll head over with you, just let me shower quickly.”
I lift a shoulder and cringe.
“Why don’t you just meet me there when you’re done showering?”
“Because you might get nailed with a flying statue. Fuck, Vix, we’ve been over this and I don’t give a shit if the hotshot lawyer is there or not. I’m going with you.”
“It isn’t even nine yet. Satan doesn’t rise before noon, I’ll be fine.”
“Are you seriously going to debate this with me?”
The growl in his tone is setting us right back into hate-fuck territory, so I back down.
“Nope, I’ll wait for you, shower away bodyguard.”
“There’s my saint,” he says mockingly. “I won’t be long, I promise.”
I smile, aggravated, as he kisses my cheek and heads to the washroom.
My heart is pounding to the knowledge that I will likely come face to face with Gabe in front of Pax again and its freaking me out.
God, I really am a Vixen, but if Gabe isn’t able to get my mother into rehab, then at least I have some leverage on him that should keep him motivated to keep trying. Either that or I may have to blackmail him into making her sign everything over to me. I don’t care either way. I just want her out of my life and away from Whiskey. No pun intended.
I pour myself a glass of orange juice and add a splash of vodka in hopes to kill my nerves.
“I don’t think so,” Pax declares, taking the glass from my hand. “You are
