A PROMISE

***JAX***

The heat between us was almost tangible, an invisible energy that made every movement, every word more intense. Her hands were on my shoulders, her nails digging slightly into my skin, and her eyes, half closed, sparkled at me – challenging, provocative. But behind this façade lay a truth that I wanted to coax out.

“You ask too many questions, Jax,” she began, her voice rough, almost crackling. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile that both teased and goaded me. I kept my eyes fixed on her, letting my hands slide slowly over her sides, feeling her soft skin under my fingers, every goose bump that my touch caused.

“Maybe,” she continued, her hips moving against me almost imperceptibly, ‘I would even let you spoil me more often.’ Her words were a sweet poison, a mixture of mockery and truth that only drew me deeper under her spell.

“Maybe?” I let my voice deepen, drawing out the word with relish. My grip tightened, my movements slowed, almost torturously. “That doesn't sound convincing, Marie.”

She inhaled sharply as I sank deeper into her, my lips found her neck, while my hands explored her back. Her body tensed under me, a silent answer that spoke louder than any word.

“You're good, Jax,“ she finally uttered, a groan accompanied her words, which made me triumph inwardly. ‘Damn good... I wouldn't have thought you capable of that.”

I paused, just for a moment, enjoying the sound of her voice, the fire in her eyes. ’So I'm good?” I asked softly, my breath caressing her skin as I tightened my grip on her. “But is that enough for you, Marie? Do you really just want... good?”

She bit her lower lip, and I saw her facade begin to crumble. Her hands slid from my shoulders to my neck, pulling me closer to her, as if she wanted to force me to a kiss. But I held back, letting her feel that I still held the upper hand in the game.

“What do you really want, Marie?” I asked again, my voice a dangerous whisper, my movements slow and demanding at the same time. ‘Tell me. I want to hear it from you.”

“I want...’ She closed her eyes, her breathing quickened before she opened her lips again to answer me. But instead, there was only a moan, a sound that finally made me lose my mind.

“Tell me, Marie,“ I demanded, my hands sliding lower, finding her most sensitive spots, teasing her until she gave herself to me completely, throwing her head back and surrendering to my control.

“I want you, Jax,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible but full of passion. “More than just that... I want you completely.”

Her words made me hold still, just for a moment. It was more than I had expected, more than I had planned. But there was no going back at this point.

The words floated between us, heavy and meaningful, as I tilted my head slightly to the side and fixed her with my gaze. My movements had slowed, almost painfully, as I waited for her to speak. But she held my gaze, her lips slightly open, her cheeks flushed with desire and something else – something deeper that I couldn't quite grasp yet.

“What does that mean, Marie?” My voice was a dark, velvety whisper that vibrated in the heat between us. ‘You want me completely? Tell me what that means.’ My hands slowly traveled over her hips, my grip firm and demanding. I wanted the truth from her, and I would get it, no matter how long it took.

She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling against mine, and I could feel her struggling with herself. “Jax...” she began, her voice soft but raw with emotion. “I don't know how to tell you...”

“Try.” I let my lips glide over her neck, placing small, burning kisses on her most sensitive spot, before I sat up again and looked at her. ‘I want to hear it, Marie. I want to know what you really want.’ My movements became more intense, deeper thrusts that were supposed to force her words out of her.

Her head fell back, a muffled groan escaped her lips, and for a moment I thought she would lose herself in this surrender. But then her eyes opened again, sparkling with passion and a rare determination.

“I want you, Jax,” she finally said, her voice shaky but firm. ”Not just for a moment. Not just for tonight.” She raised her hands, placed them on my cheeks and forced me to hold her gaze. “I want everything. Your darkness, your strength, your weaknesses... everything you are. I want more than the game.”

“Marie,” I whispered, my breath brushing her lips, which were so tantalizingly close. “What you want is dangerous. I'm not a man for... wholeness.”

She smiled, a delicate, almost defiant smile, and pulled me closer. “I don't think so, Jax. I can see it in your eyes. You want more – you just never admitted it.” Her words were like a challenge, one I couldn't ignore.

“You're brave, Marie,” I finally said, my voice full of admiration and darkness at the same time. ‘But be careful what you wish for. It could bring you more than you can bear.”

“I'm ready,’ she whispered, and her lips found mine in a kiss that left no questions unanswered – a kiss that said everything words couldn't express. It was raw, intense, and yet imbued with a depth I hadn't expected.

I lost myself in her, in the way she held me, how she threw herself at me, and I knew that she had taken control – at least for this one moment. And maybe, just maybe, I was ready to give myself over to her completely.

Her words echoed in me, like an echo that would not fade away. The way she looked at me – penetrating, fearless, with a fire that almost burned me – made it impossible to turn away. She wanted everything. Not just my body, not just this moment, but something deeper, something I had always avoided.

“Whatever you want, Marie...” My voice was rough, brittle with the intensity of the moment. My hands were firmly on her hips, as if I had to hold on to her to keep from losing myself. ”I don't know if I can give you that.”

Her body tensed under me, and I felt her fingers dig into the back of my neck, her nails lightly scratching my skin. Her gaze demanded an answer, one that I could hardly give. But I had to try – for her.

“But I will try.” My breath brushed her lips, my words a silent promise that hung between us. ”For you.” I paused, saw her close her eyes, and a hint of relief pass through her body. “I promise you.”

Her hands traveled from my neck to my cheeks, her thumbs stroking my skin as she looked at me, her eyes dark with emotion. ‘Jax...’ she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don't demand that you change. I just want you – the way you are.”

I pulled her closer to me, felt her heat, her closeness, and knew that there was no going back. “Then promise me something, Marie,” I said, my voice more demanding, darker. “Promise me that you'll stay the way you are. Don't change. Don't lose yourself. I want exactly this Marie. The one who challenges me. The one who drives me crazy. The one I can't get out of my head.”

She swallowed, her lips trembled slightly before she looked at me again. “I promise.” Her voice was firm, honest, and I knew she meant it.

“Good.” I let my lips slowly travel down her neck, tasting her skin, her warmth. ”Because it's exactly this Marie that drives me crazy. And I don't want anything else.”

She sighed softly, her body snuggling closer to mine, and I started moving again – slowly, intensely, every movement an expression of what words couldn't say. Her head fell back, her hands found support on my shoulders, and I saw how her body adjusted to my pace, how she gave herself completely to me.

“Jax,” she gasped, her voice full of desire and something else – a deeper emotion that completely captivated me. ”I need you.”

“And you have me,” I replied softly, my eyes buried deep in hers. ”Completely.”

My fingers slowly glided through her silky hair, gently but firmly, as if I could anchor the intensity of the moment in her locks. Her warmth radiated through every touch, through every movement we shared, and I held her closer to me, as if I wanted to shield her from the whole world – not because I thought she was weak, but because she was too precious to lose even a moment.

“Marie,” I whispered, my voice rough, almost a growl, as my gaze deepened into hers. Her eyes were wide open, honest, unprotected – a window into a soul that I didn't deserve, but wanted to protect at all costs. But it was more than that. More than mere protection.

“I care about you,” I began, my hands gently traveling up her neck, tracing the fine line of her collarbones before coming to rest on her shoulders. My grip tightened slightly, just enough to hold her in place, to make sure she heard and felt every word. ”A lot.”

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but I didn't let her. “But I don't want to protect you, Marie.” I paused, letting the sentence sink heavily between us before continuing. “I want to be your partner. Someone who not only offers you protection, but also shows you understanding and respect.”

She took a deep breath, her chest rose against me, and I felt her take in every word I said. “Jax,” she began softly, almost uncertainly, but I didn't let her escape. My hands cupped her face, my thumbs gently stroked her cheekbones, and I leaned closer to her until our foreheads almost touched.

“I want you to know that I see you, Marie,” I whispered, my voice vibrating with emotions I could hardly name. ”Not as someone I have to protect, but as a woman who challenges me, who understands me and drives me crazy. I don't just want to be a safe haven for you – I want to go through every storm with you.”

Her hands found their way to my neck, pulling me closer, her fingers digging into my skin while her lips hovered in front of my face. “Jax... I don't know what to say.”

“Then don't say anything.” My lips found her mouth, demanding, intense, a kiss that expressed everything words couldn't. Her response was just as passionate, and I felt that she had fallen for me just as much as I had for her.

When I broke away for a moment, I looked deep into her eyes. “But if you say something, Marie,” I added softly, “then tell me that you are willing to go all the way with me. No half measures. No holding back.”

She didn't hesitate, not even for a moment. ‘I'm ready, Jax.’ Her voice was firm, full of determination and desire. “Completely.”

I pulled her back to me, let my hands glide over her back, felt her give herself completely to me. “That's all I need,” I murmured before sinking into her again – this time not just physically, but with everything I was.

Our bodies moved in unison, every thrust, every touch propelled us higher, making us forget reality and exist only in this moment. Her heat enveloped me, drawing me deeper, harder, until I felt as if the world around us was on fire.

“Marie...” I moaned, my voice a rough, throaty growl, as I felt her throw herself at me, every fiber of her body demanding to possess me completely. Her hands dug into my shoulders, pulling me closer, holding me as if she were afraid I might escape her. But that was impossible. Not now, not in this moment, when she had me completely under her spell.

“Jax...” Her breathing was irregular, a tortured whisper between the thrusts that brought us both to the brink of self-control. ”It's... too much... I can't...”

“Yes, you can.” My voice was a whisper, hoarse with desire, my hands found their way to her face, held it, forcing her to look at me. Her eyes, wide open, full of emotion, were all I needed to continue. ”For me, Marie. Let go. Now.”

Her body tensed, her walls tightened around me so tightly that for a moment I felt like I was losing my mind completely. “Oh God... Marie...” A deep, throaty groan escaped me as I felt her give herself completely to me, pulling me with her, engulfing us both in a maelstrom of lust and ecstasy.

“Come for me!” The words came out like an order, rough, pleading, while I pushed deeper into her, every feeling, every movement designed to bring her over the threshold. And then it was there – the moment she gave herself to me completely, her head fell back, her nails scratched across my back, and I felt her tremble, quiver, pull me with her until there was no turning back.

We called each other's names, an uncontrolled echo in the silence that surrounded us, our bodies pressed tightly together as the last wave rocked us both. I held her, felt her heartbeat against my chest, her breath on my neck.

“Marie...” I finally whispered, my voice barely more than a shadow, while I slowly withdrew, only to hold her in my arms, not letting go. ”That was... more than I expected.”