96

96

The soft creak of the wooden stairs echoed in the quiet hallway as Jaxon carefully carried Elena up to her new room. The house had been bustling with celebration just moments ago, but now, it felt like a world apart — a calm stillness that seemed to hush every sound.

Elena’s voice broke the silence as she spoke softly, slurring just slightly from the alcohol. “Jaxon… it’s so different here. I never imagined I’d have a room all to myself.” Her words floated between them like a fragile thread, her eyes heavy but restless.

Jaxon smiled gently, trying to steady her wobbling steps. “Yeah, it’s safer this way. I didn’t want you sleeping downstairs with us boys anymore after I found out… well, you’re a girl.” His tone was soft, almost protective, but there was something in his eyes — a flicker of something unspoken.

They reached the door to the new room, and Jaxon set her down gently. The walls were painted a calming shade of pale blue, and a neatly made bed sat in the corner with fresh white sheets. The scent of lavender lingered faintly in the air.

“Get out of the bed,” Jaxon instructed kindly, guiding her to sit down. He pulled the duvet up to cover her, tucking the edges snugly. “Why don’t you just sleep now? I’ll come back and check on you later.”

Elena’s eyelids fluttered, but she blinked up at him, her gaze suddenly sharp and clear despite the lingering intoxication. “Can… can you hold my hand?” she asked, her voice cracking with a strange mixture of vulnerability and urgency.

Jaxon’s brow furrowed. He took a small step back and shook his head. “No.”

Her expression shifted, eyes narrowing with a flicker of frustration mixed with confusion. “Why? Are you uncomfortable?” His voice softened, worry creasing his forehead as he asked again, “Are you not feeling sleepy? You need to rest. You’re drunk.”

Elena’s lips parted in a breathy sigh. “I’m hot. It’s really hot in here.” The words came out slurred, and she fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, the slight flush on her cheeks deepening.

Before she could do anything more, she suddenly started to pull at the bottom of her shirt, as if intending to take it off. Jaxon’s eyes snapped wide open, his voice a mix of sharp concern and warning.

“Hey! Stop that,” he said firmly. “You shouldn’t do that in front of a boy. You have to be more careful.”

Elena blinked at him, then giggled drunkenly, a light, teasing sound. “Okay, okay. Don’t worry.” She tried to settle back against the pillows, but the heat seemed to cling to her skin.

Jaxon moved quickly to the window and slid it open. A rush of cool night air swept into the room, brushing Elena’s hair and cooling her flushed cheeks.

He stood quietly for a moment, watching her. “I don’t want to take advantage of you… not when you’re drunk.”

Elena’s head lolled back against the pillow, eyes closing briefly, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

Jaxon’s gaze dropped to the floor. “How much did she even drink?” he murmured to himself. “Just two sips… and she acts like she swallowed a whole bottle.”

His mind flicked back to the memory of the other night — the night when Rick had taken her to a room after she was drunk. “Was this how she behaved then?”

Elena suddenly laughed, a deep, loose sound that filled the room with warmth. “You’re laughing,” she slurred playfully, eyes sparkling mischievously. “Probably… I should have confessed first… before him.”

Jaxon opened his mouth to respond, but Elena’s hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and pulling him down toward the bed. Their bodies brushed as he fell beside her.

Their faces were close — so close that he could see every detail: the soft curve of her lips, the shimmer of moisture on her lower lashes, the quickening rise and fall of her breath.

Their lips hovered, trembling at the edge of a kiss — when suddenly, a loud voice shattered the moment.

“Jaxon! Would you like some hot ramen?” called a cheerful voice from downstairs.

Jaxon blinked, startled out of the charged silence.

“They’re calling you downstairs,” Elena added with a smirk, eyes still half-lidded, teasing but sincere.

Elena’s next words were almost a whisper, but they carried weight. “Remember when you told me to ignore Rick’s call the last time? Well, this time, Rick is calling you for something. You’re the one who ignored him now.”

Jaxon chuckled, the tension between them breaking like a wave. His lips curved into a smile — but before he could say anything else, his breath caught.

Without thinking, his lips crashed onto hers, the kiss fierce and unyielding. Passion surged through him, and his hand found her waist, gripping firmly as if grounding himself in the moment.

Elena responded immediately, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. The world outside the room seemed to disappear, leaving only the heat between them, the rush of stolen breaths, and the silent confessions in every touch.

Jaxon’s heart pounded — the room spinning as desire and hesitation clashed within him. But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was the soft warmth of Elena beneath him, and the promise held in that kiss.