Chapter 21

Jax I stared at the expectant look on Reine’s face. I didn’t know what exactly she was expecting me to say but I knew she thought it was nothing good. For what seemed like the thousandth time, I wondered who exactly had hurt her to the point where she didn’t trust anybody at all. I stared at her in silence for a while, marveling at her beauty.

I couldn’t even deny it at this point. I had feelings for this woman, no matter how much I had tried to turn them off. I hated the fact that she was keeping secrets from me and I had wanted to punish her for it by being distant.

I didn’t know how to even start asking all the questions I had. I shook my head to clear my thoughts. There was a questioning look on her face, and I knew she expected me to speak.

“Jax?” she asked in a soft voice.

“What did you need the $5,000 for, Reine?” was my question.

The air became heavy.

It was almost like Reine was trying to ask herself that she had heard the question right. I had wanted to beat around the bush, but there was no need. I wanted to clear that up because in the short few minutes we had spent in that elevator, I had decided that I was going to be intentional about how I felt about her, and the fact that I wanted something with her.

But before any of that could happen, I needed to know the truth about whatever dark secrets she was hiding. If she didn’t feel the same way and she thought I was prying, then I was going to let it go and pretend this episode never happened and the relationship between us was going to stay strictly business.

“Why are you asking this question?”

There was an uncomfortable look on Reine’s face. I wanted to take the question back simply because I wanted her to be more comfortable, but I needed to know. There were no if’s or but’s about this. Like I said, I had decided to be intentional.

“Because, Reine, the more we spend time with each other, the more enamored I get with you and the more I get obsessed with spending time with you. I want us to explore what exists between us, but I don’t want to base any sort of relationship we have on secrets.”

Reine sighed and looked away.

I thought that was it, but she turned back towards me. Before she could say anything though, I felt the need to precise, “If you do not feel the same way for me, don’t force yourself to answer that question. Nothing will change and the contract will move forward just like it was supposed to.”

“I don’t want it to,” Reine said so softly that I almost missed it. “I feel the same way about you, Jax. And I would want us to explore what exists between us.”

So, I stared, waiting for her to organize her thoughts so she could tell me her story.

And tell me she did.

I listened carefully as she told me about her dad and about the emotional abuse she had endured in his hand. There was so much pain in her voice that I moved and took her into my arms. The more I listened to Reine speak, the madder I got, and the more I wished I could break her dad’s face into two.

A solid plan morphed into my brain, one that involved paying the old man’s debts, calling him, and making sure that he never bothered Reine again. It was obvious that she loved him and that was why she had accepted to prostitute herself (to a certain extent) just so she could pay off his debts.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” I said after she was done talking.

Reine was laying in my arms and the air was a little more relaxed. I felt like her opening up to me had changed something. And I couldn’t wait to explore whatever that change was going to bring about.

I kissed her forehead as she snuggled into me and held her even tighter. I was so glad she was in my life. So so glad.