Chapter 125 THE SAFEST DISTANCE

Chapter 125 THE SAFEST DISTANCE
Jaxon's POV

I didn't give her a chance to step back. My hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck, my fingers tangling into her hair with a firm, commanding grip that tilted her head up.

I captured her full lips with mine, my tongue seeking entrance. Her lips parted, letting me into the heat and warmth of her mouth. My left hand rested on her waist, pulling her flush against my chest as I deepened the kiss, capturing her lower lip while she responded to mine.

I kissed her deep and slow, a surge of heat coursing through my veins. My right hand moved from her neck to join my left around her waist before slipping beneath her T-shirt. Her skin was so warm beneath my touch as I reached up to trace the strap of her bra, kissing her as if I had craved her my entire life.

Giving her lip a soft, lingering bite, I pulled back slightly before capturing her mouth again, barely leaving her enough air to breathe. I nibbled at her lips before finally breaking away, my forehead resting heavily against hers as we both fought to catch our breath.

I cupped her face in my hands, and she placed her palms over mine, leaning into my touch as her eyes met mine in the dim light.

"Can I be selfish?" I whispered, my voice thick with emotion before leaning in to press a kiss over her eyelid. "Can I be selfish and ask a favor of you?"

She nodded softly, her fingers gently caressing the side of my face.

"Just for tonight... I don't want to think about anything else," I admitted, my voice breaking as the storm in my head threatened to consume me. "I really don't want to think about any of it, or I swear I'm going to murder someone."

I just needed a brief moment of relief—anything to calm the rage burning inside me.

"Look at me," she said, her tone almost pleading.

I tried to turn away, not wanting her to see the moisture gathering in my eyes, but her hands gently traced the skin beneath my eyes, catching a tear right on the back of her hand.

"This is no longer just your battle," she reassured me, her gaze steady. "It's ours now. I promise you, we're going to make them pay."

Her words were meant to comfort me, but the thought of her facing Gary, Falcone, or Ravyn Vale scared the living daylights out of me. They had already sent a bomb—we got lucky this time, but what would they send next? What would they do to her? A sharp, throbbing ache flared behind my eyes at the mere thought.

Pushing the terror out of my mind, I leaned back in, my lips parting hers effortlessly. The heat of my tongue brushed against her bottom lip before sliding past, warm and deliberate.

A quiet gasp escaped her throat, and I took the opportunity to deepen the kiss completely, tasting her, exploring her, demanding every bit of her surrender until a heavy ache washed straight through my core.

In one fluid movement, I gathered her into my arms and carried her over to the bed. Hovering above her, my weight anchored her as her hands slid beneath my shirt, her fingers tracing the muscles of my chest before leaning up to press soft kisses along my neck. She nipped at my skin, leaving a gentle bite that drew a low, ragged groan from my chest.

I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it aside, reclaiming her mouth as my hands moved to her waist, slipping beneath the fabric to gently trace the curve of her body. A soft moan escaped her lips—music to my ears. I pulled her shirt over her head, leaving her in her lace bra, before cupping her cheeks to pull her back into a deep, desperate kiss. I kissed down the corner of her mouth, trailing lingering bites along her jawline and down the column of her neck before reaching her chest. My fingers quickly worked the button of her pants while her hands reached down to unbuckle my belt.

Within moments, the clothes were discarded, the dim light reflecting the raw intensity in her eyes. I lifted her, guiding her legs around my waist as I leaned down, capturing her skin with my lips. Her nails dug into my back, her other hand tangling in my hair to pull me closer.

Every touch built into the next, consuming us both completely as we lost ourselves in the heat and tension of the night.

Nancy's POV

I woke up in his arms.

The rain had long since stopped, and the morning sun was already casting warm reflections through the glass door and into the room. We lay wrapped in each other's warmth. My arms were locked around him, my head resting against his chest as I listened to the steady, heavy beat of his heart while his fingers absently combed through my hair.

When I tilted my head up to look at him, I found him staring blankly at the ceiling, completely lost in his thoughts.

"Hey," I called out softly, pulling his attention back to me.

When his eyes finally met mine, I saw a storm of mixed emotions swirling in them—anger, pain, frustration, and a coldness I couldn't quite define. He forced a small smile before pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"You're up."

Even his voice sounded off. I searched his face, my eyes silently questioning him.

"I want us to talk," he added, pulling himself up into a sitting position.

I reached out, grabbed his discarded T-shirt from the side of the bed, and pulled it over my head. I ran my fingers through my messy hair and waited for him to speak. From the tense energy radiating off him, I already knew something was wrong.

"Nancy, I want you to leave Hollowmere," he said. His gaze barely held mine.

I blinked, thoroughly confused. "What? What do you mean?"

"I want you to leave the ranch together with your family. I need you to leave Hollowmere for a while. I'll book a flight for all of you to one of my private resorts in Hawaii. I have enough security there to keep you completely safe until I have Ravyn Vale, Falcone, and Gary right where I want them."

I was beyond stunned. I stared at him as if he had completely lost his mind.

"I don't understand," I dragged out, running a stressed hand through my hair. "You want me to go into hiding with my family?"

I waited for a better explanation as he finally turned to meet my eyes directly.

"I'm just trying to keep you safe, Nancy."

"By sending us away?" I asked.

It wasn't that I didn't understand where he was coming from, but shipping my whole family off was something I never saw coming.

"I can't take the risk, Nancy! I can't sit back and watch you or anyone else get hurt, or I will literally lose my mind!"

His voice broke, and in that split second, the cold mask cracked. I saw the raw terror in his eyes. He wasn't just being possessive or controlling—he was absolutely terrified.