Chapter 59 DANGEROUS HEAT
My heart nearly leapt into my mouth when I felt someone’s arm snake around my waist while another hand clamped tightly over my mouth. Panic exploded through me as I struggled against the strong grip holding me in place. Acting purely on instinct, I managed to free one arm and drove my elbow hard into his lower abdomen, then swung again, connecting with his jaw. His hold loosened instantly, giving me enough leverage to flip him hard onto his back.
I spun around, ready to confront whoever had grabbed me—but froze when I saw Jaxon lying there, groaning in pain.
A shocked gasp escaped me.
“Jaxon?” I called out, disbelief lacing my voice. The name slipped out before I could stop myself, completely forgetting the need to stay silent. My hand flew to my mouth as realization struck too late. The sound had already reached Gary, who immediately snapped his head in my direction.
Just when dread swallowed me whole, Jaxon grabbed my hand and yanked me down. I fell directly on top of him, our faces inches apart. My palms pressed firmly against his chest as our eyes locked. Panic surged through me again, and I tried pushing myself up, but his arm tightened around my waist, anchoring me in place.
“What are you—”
Before I could finish, his hand shot up and covered my mouth. His other hand lifted, his index finger pressing against his lips in a silent command to stay quiet.
I froze, nodding slightly as I forced myself to stay still. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, crunching against the gravel and dry leaves around the garden.
Oh my God… we were doomed.
My heart pounded violently against my ribs, each beat louder than the last.
“He’s onto us. What are we going to do?” I whispered shakily, my voice barely audible against the thick tension surrounding us.
Jaxon, however, looked far calmer than I felt. His eyes remained sharp, calculating, as if he were already several steps ahead.
“Play drunk,” he murmured.
Confusion flashed through me, leaving me stunned for a brief second—just long enough for him to move.
His lips crashed against mine.
Jaxon’s POV
I didn’t give myself time to think.
The moment I heard footsteps approaching the garden path, my survival instincts took over. My hand shot out, gripping Nancy’s wrist before she could question me, and I pulled her down with me onto the damp grass behind the marble hedge.
“He’s onto us. What are we going to do?” Nancy whispered as the footsteps drew closer, panic lacing every word.
“Play drunk,” I murmured urgently, my breath ghosting across her cheek.
I didn’t give her time to react before I crushed my lips against hers.
Her lips were soft—warm despite the cool night air—but they stiffened instantly under mine. Her body tensed above me, shock freezing her for half a heartbeat before she jerked, trying to pull away.
Her palms pressed firmly against my chest, pushing hard, resisting me.
I tightened my grip around her waist, locking her against me as I deepened the kiss, angling my head to swallow her protests beneath my mouth. The faint sweetness of champagne still lingered on her lips, blending with the delicate scent of her perfume, and it hit my senses like a slow-burning drug. She tasted just as intoxicating as she had the last time, and the memory alone made my control slip dangerously.
She let out a muffled protest against my mouth, her fingers curling into my shirt as she struggled to create distance between us.
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder—closer.
I rolled slightly, shifting our bodies so I was fully sprawled across the grass with her loosely pinned above me, my hand sliding to the back of her neck to hold her there. Not forcefully… but firmly enough to make the act believable to anyone watching.
“Stop…” she breathed against my lips, her voice trembling, barely louder than the wind brushing through the garden.
I ignored the word, dragging my lips across hers again, catching her lower lip between mine in a teasing pull before releasing it slowly. She gasped, her breath hitching as she tried to push away again, but I captured her mouth once more, pressing closer as if I couldn’t get enough, letting the kiss linger just long enough to sell the illusion.
Then I pulled back slightly, just enough to keep the act convincing—just enough to keep us hidden.
I brushed my mouth against hers again, slower this time—less force… more pressure. My lips parted slightly, dragging across her lower lip in a deliberate, drunken motion, letting my breath mingle with hers as I pulled her closer.
Her resistance faltered.
I felt it in the way her hands stopped pushing and instead hovered uncertainly against my chest. Her breathing hitched—shallow and uneven—and her body softened against mine.
I heard the footsteps fading, but I didn’t pull away. Instead, I tightened my arm around her waist, my palm pressing against the small of her back, drawing her flush against me. Every curve of her body molded against mine, and the contact sent a dangerous heat spiraling through my veins.
Why does she make me feel this way? Why do I feel like this? From the very first night I kissed her—the night of the party at the hotel—it had felt so right. And every single time since then, I seemed to get lost in it… always wanting more.
Her lips moved beneath mine again, parting slightly as she let me in. When she kissed back—tentative at first—then caught my lower lip between hers, a low sound nearly escaped me.
My control slipped.
I kissed her deeper, slower, letting the kiss drag and linger as my thumb brushed along her jaw, tilting her face just enough to deepen it. Her breath caught sharply, and her fingers curled tighter into my shirt as if she needed something solid to hold onto.
The night air felt colder around us, but her body was warm—too warm—pressed against mine. I could feel the rapid rhythm of her heartbeat through the thin fabric of her dress, matching the chaotic pounding inside my own chest.
And for a moment, I forgot why we were even doing this.
Forgot the footsteps. Forgot where we were. Forgot everything except her.
All I could focus on was the way her lips softened completely beneath mine… the way she melted into the kiss as if something inside her had finally snapped loose. The way she kissed me back with the same fire and urgency. Her hands slid into my hair, threading through it, tugging slightly as if pulling me closer wasn’t close enough.
Her hand slid from my hair down to my chest, then to my shoulder, gripping me as she leaned into me instead of away. The shift sent a sharp rush of adrenaline through me, and I instinctively pulled her closer, my fingers tightening against her back.
I grazed her upper lip gently before capturing both of her lips again, holding the kiss longer this time before finally pulling away. We both stared at each other, breaths uneven as we struggled to pull in air.
Those eyes… the way they searched mine—confusion tangled with desire and something dangerously bright. I didn’t hesitate. I closed the space between us again.
This time, I kissed her slower… heavier… charged with something far too real. My lips moved against hers with a hunger I couldn’t suppress, memorizing the shape of her mouth, the taste of her breath, the way she trembled every time our breaths tangled together.
She inhaled sharply against my lips, and the soft sound nearly shattered whatever control I had left.
I dragged in a rough breath between kisses, my forehead pressing briefly against hers as I fought to steady myself. But the moment her lips brushed mine again—eagerly searching for me—my restraint snapped completely.
My hand slid higher along her back, fingers grazing her shoulder blade as I pulled her fully against me, deepening the kiss once more. The world around us faded into nothing but rustling leaves and the frantic rhythm of shared breathing.
My hands drifted upward, brushing lightly along her neck as I cupped her face between my palms. Her arms instantly wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer, refusing to let the distance return.
I slid my hands slowly down her arms, my touch lingering as they moved lower, brushing against her breast.
Then, in a split second, everything changed.
Her body stiffened. She pulled away sharply, and before I could react, a stinging slap cracked across my face.
The impact snapped me back to reality as I turned to meet her gaze.
Gone was the fire I had seen moments ago.
Now… she looked like she could kill me.