Season 1—Seduction—Episode 16
Jax snickered at her query.
Lily continued. “Because I know I was sending out signals. I couldn’t help it. You are both too potent by far. Alone, and infinitely more so together. I can’t imagine any woman resisting you, especially as a team.”
“The past year hasn’t been about teaming up that way,” Lex reminded her. “We have a CD to record.”
“And it’s going to be a chart-topper—beyond fabulous,” she insisted. “Not a dry eye in the house during your tour.”
“We’ll see,” Lex murmured. “Now, tell us why you’re so worried about putting your employment in jeopardy. And why did you sign on for only two months?”
She was quiet for a few moments. Her nails drew tiny circles on Lex’s abdomen.
“Lily?” This from Jax. “Is everything okay with you?”
His tone was tinged with concern and that told Lex that his friend had likely ventured down the same path mentally, wondering about Lily’s health. They wouldn’t have both gone there in their minds, he was sure, if they hadn’t experienced this once before.
But Lily said, “I’m going on a trip. To Europe. And I’m taking my mother with me. First-class all the way. She deserves it and I’ve always dreamed of it.”
Lex managed to not heave a sigh of relief. His muscles relaxed. He hadn’t even realized how tense he’d become.
Jax said, “That’s very generous of you, sweetheart.”
She spared a glance at him over the term of endearment. But didn’t comment.
Lex asked, “Where are you both going?”
“Well . . . it’s not so much a ‘both’ scenario in the sense you’re thinking. She’s dead.”
And the muscles bunched again.
Lily told them, “She died when I was thirteen. But she was born in France, lived there until she was seven, and then her family relocated to the States. She taught me French and we learned Italian together. She always wanted to go back—she’d never been to Paris. But her family couldn’t afford to return. When she married my father, they started saving for my college and a trip that she and I would make together after I graduated high school.”
Lex felt a wet drop on his chest. Assumed it was water from her hair. But there was another small splash. And he knew better.
Lily said, “She got sick. Ovarian cancer. The Angelinis paid for her surgery and she recovered. For a while. Then it was stomach cancer. They insisted again. The third time, she swore both my father and me to secrecy. She was already so deeply indebted to the Angelinis for their help that she couldn’t accept anything further from them. And didn’t want to hurt their feelings by refusing their generosity. Plus, it was a late-stage diagnosis. My father was determined to aggressively treat it, though, because the thought of her leaving him was too unbearable for him to accept. That depleted all bank accounts.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lex said, his gut twisting.
“Thank you, but . . . Don’t be. That treatment gave her an extra six months beyond her doctors’ predictions. The absolute best six months of my life. Worth every single penny.”
“Jesus,” Jax muttered.
“It’s okay, really.” There was raw emotion in her voice, but she spoke in a steady tone. Well, almost. With a sniffle, she told them, “I started working when I was sixteen so that I could take my own trip. Go to all the places we’d talked about, including Paris. I plan to spend a month there. And I’m taking her ashes with me to scatter.”
Over the top of her head, Lex and Jax exchanged a look in the flickering of flames from the fire. There was just enough light to see that Jax’s eyes had turned darker than normal. And his already prominent features were hard-set.
Lex took a deep breath. Then he said, “You’ll be the toast of Paris in all those gowns.”
Her head lifted. She stared at him through watery eyes. “I can’t keep all of those, Lex. Just the first one.”
He brushed away a few drops from her cheek. “They’re yours, Lily.”
“Don’t argue,” Jax interjected. “Because then I’ll have to get all broody with you again.”
She let out a small laugh, though tears trickled down her cheeks. Peering over at Jax, she said, “Something tells me that’s going to happen regardless. It seems to be your most common state.”
“Yeah, well . . .” He shrugged.
Lex coaxed her to return her head to his chest. “Just let us give you the gift, Lily.”
“You already gave me gifts this evening. Four times.”
He chuckled. As did Jax.
Lex said, “Just our warm-up act.”
“Mm. Lucky me,” she quietly, contentedly mused.
~ * * * ~
Jax felt a curious void the next morning. He was sprawled on his back in his big bed, sans Lily’s warm skin and soft curves pressed against him.
He cracked open an eye. Lex was still asleep, way over on the other side. The middle was empty. And that was where the void came from.
Jax had become addicted to being curled around Lily that quickly?
Are you really so fucking surprised?
One mental flash of her in nothing but glittery sandals and diamonds and he had his answer.
Or, actually, it could have been that very first kiss. Jax had been instantly lost in her. Something that had not happened with any other woman since Katarina.
Gazing at the clock on the nightstand told Jax exactly where Lily had disappeared to—her suite to change and set up for brunch.
He hauled himself out of bed and went into his dressing room. Slipped on shorts and a tank top. Tied his tennis shoes and then smacked Lex on the leg as he passed by him.
“We’re missing our workout.” Jax continued on, out of the suite.
While they were pumping iron in the well-equipped fitness center in the lower-level east wing, Jax wondered how Lily would react to them after last night. Would she feel awkward about their situation? About what had happened? Would she still be stressing over losing her job because she’d slept with her bosses?
Following racquetball and showers, he and Lex settled at the table on the terrace off the music room. And there she was. Looking more radiant than ever before.
She gave them each a sweet smile as she served coffee and juice.
No awkwardness whatsoever.
Jax got a jolt low in his gut. It took all the willpower he possessed to not bend her over the table and push her skirt up.
Instead, he told her, “You could have woken us before you snuck out.”
“I did not sneak out,” she countered. “We had a supply delivery first thing this morning and I had to collect everything I needed for the upstairs butler’s pantry before Maxwell raided all the boxes for his own stock in the formal living rooms and the library.”
“Ah, very convenient,” Lex said with a crooked brow.
She smiled again. “I swear I didn’t sneak out. You were both snoring when the sun came up. I figured you needed your beauty rest.”
Jax mockingly scowled. “Last night we were devastatingly handsome. Today we’re ogres?”
“Let me off the hook, Jax,” she said with a luxurious laugh that was music to his ears. “I have a job to do. And you now know why it’s so important to me. So be nice.” She pinched his arm.
He grabbed her around the waist and she fell into his lap.
“You’re going to make me spill!” She set the pitcher of juice on the table.
Jax said, “Rule number one. You don’t leave either of our beds without a good-morning kiss. Or, preferably, a good-morning fuck.”
She kissed him. Then told him, “Duly noted, sir.”
He released her. She rounded the table to where Lex sat and kissed him.
“Hmm, nice,” he said. “I like this rule.”
“Now may I serve brunch?”
“I am starving,” Lex admitted.
“You wore us out last night, sweetheart.”
Pink tinged her cheeks and neck. “You’re the ones who did all the work. I just enjoyed the orgasms.”
She set out the food and Jax was tempted to ask her to join them, but the two housekeepers were on this floor somewhere and could walk into the music room at any time to dust and mop. He didn’t want to put Lily in a difficult position with her co-workers and any gossip.
When she left with the cart, Lex went to the study to collect his notebook.
Jax reset the digital recording system, not erasing last night’s track, which contained Lily’s erotic, stirring moans.
He’d be saving that session for future fantasy material.
He tuned his violins and then crossed to the wet bar. Just as Lily passed through the double doors.
“Let me,” she said as he reached for a bottle of Pellegrino resting in the chiller.
Over his shoulder, he told her, “I can pour my own water, sweetheart.”
She came up behind him and said, “Do not call me that outside of your suite.”
“It’s past noon. Housekeeping and maintenance aren’t allowed up here.”
“But Greta is,” she singsonged with a pointed look. “Sir.”
“After the way we made love last night, it’s going to drive me crazy that you call me and Lex sir. So when we’re up here in the afternoons and evenings—cut it out.”
She smirked at him.
God, she was saucy. And he loved it.
She took the bottle from him, did up his drink with a twist of lime, and handed the glass over. “Please let me do my job. I happen to enjoy it. And I’m getting quite good at it.”
“Just seems a little bizarre to have you serving us after last night.”
“Bizarre to you. Perfectly acceptable to me. You’re paying me, after all.”
“Well, that’s true enough.” He sipped. Then grinned at her before turning away to get his own work done.
But her next words brought him to an abrupt halt.
“Who is she, Jax?”