You're making it very hard for me to be good, princess!

You're making it very hard for me to be good, princess!
Amara’s POV

My heart pounded so hard I was sure Jaxon could hear it. His words echoed in my mind—I think I’m falling for you.

I swallowed, unsure how to respond. I wasn’t used to this—wasn’t used to him being so serious.

Jaxon, the arrogant flirt. The teasing troublemaker. The guy who drove me crazy in every possible way.

And yet, here he was—vulnerable, open, laying his feelings bare in a way I never expected.

I didn’t trust my voice, so instead of speaking, I did the only thing that felt right.

I kissed him.

Jaxon tensed for half a second, then groaned against my lips, his arms tightening around me as he kissed me back. This time, it was slower, more deliberate—like he was savoring every second.

When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin.

“That’s a dangerous way to answer, princess,” he murmured, his fingers tracing slow circles against my lower back.

I exhaled shakily. “You started it.”

Jaxon chuckled, his lips brushing against my temple. “So you do like me.”

I bit my lip, looking away. “I never said that.”

He caught my chin, tilting my face back to his. His golden eyes burned into mine, filled with something intense, something real.

“You didn’t have to.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers still curled in his hoodie.

Jaxon studied me for a long moment before sighing, like he was trying to hold himself back. “We should get you home before I do something stupid.”

I blinked. “Like what?”

He smirked. “Like kiss you until you can’t pretend you don’t want me.”

My breath caught, heat flooding my cheeks.

Jaxon laughed, clearly enjoying how flustered I was. With one last lingering touch to my waist, he pulled away and walked toward the car.

I followed in a daze, my legs unsteady.

How the hell was I supposed to survive this?

The air between us was thick with tension.

Jaxon had one hand on the wheel, his other casually resting on the center console. His fingers tapped lazily against the leather, like he was deep in thought.

I stared out the window, pretending to be unaffected. But my skin still burned from where he had touched me, from the way his lips had claimed mine.

Then, out of nowhere, Jaxon reached over and grabbed my hand.

I startled. “Jaxon—”

“Relax, princess,” he murmured, lacing our fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world.

My pulse spiked. “You’re driving.”

He smirked. “And?”

“And you need both hands.”

Jaxon shrugged, bringing our joined hands to his lips. He pressed a slow, teasing kiss to my knuckles, his eyes still fixed on the road.

My heart nearly stopped.

“You’re such a menace,” I whispered, my voice betraying me.

He chuckled, squeezing my hand. “Yeah, but I’m your menace.”

I wanted to argue. Wanted to deny it.

But I couldn’t.

Because deep down, I knew he was right.

The car rolled to a stop in front of my house, but neither of us moved.

Jaxon’s hand was still wrapped around mine, his thumb absently stroking my skin. My pulse was still racing from the way he had kissed my knuckles like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I should’ve pulled away. Should’ve gotten out of the car.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I turned to him, finding his golden eyes already on me.

“What?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Jaxon smirked, leaning his head back against the seat. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

He tilted his head, studying me. “About how much trouble I’m in with you.”

My brows furrowed. “Trouble?”

Jaxon exhaled, like he was debating whether or not to say what was on his mind. Then, in one smooth motion, he reached up and gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my skin.

“I wasn’t supposed to want you like this,” he murmured. “Not this much.”

Something inside me stirred, the intensity of his words making it hard to breathe.

I swallowed. “Jaxon…”

He hummed in response, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw before drifting down, lightly grazing my throat. His touch sent a shiver through me.

My mind screamed at me to get out of the car. To put distance between us before I got too caught up in him.

But my body?

It betrayed me.

I leaned in. Just slightly. Just enough.

Jaxon’s smirk softened into something dangerous—something raw and knowing.

“You’re making it very hard for me to be good, princess,” he murmured.

I exhaled shakily. “Who said I want you to be good?”

Jaxon went still.

Then, in a flash, he was closer.

His lips brushed my ear, his voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper.

“You really shouldn’t have said that.”

I barely had a second to process his words before his mouth was on mine again.

This time, there was no hesitation.

Jaxon kissed me like he had been waiting all day to do it again. Like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. His hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head just the way he wanted, while his other hand slid to my waist, pulling me closer.

I melted.

My fingers curled into his hoodie, desperate to hold onto something as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved against mine with a slow, consuming hunger, like he wanted to memorize every single second.

When we finally pulled away, I was breathless.

Jaxon rested his forehead against mine, his fingers still gripping my waist like he wasn’t ready to let go.

“I should let you go inside,” he murmured, his voice rough.

I swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah… probably.”

Neither of us moved.

His lips brushed against my jaw, featherlight. “Unless…”

I whimpered. Actually whimpered.

Jaxon grinned.

Laughing under his breath, he finally pulled back, his golden eyes flickering with amusement. “Go inside, princess. Before I decide to keep you here all night.”

My legs felt weak as I stumbled out of the car, my face burning.

I barely made it to my front door before I heard Jaxon call out—

“Sweet dreams, Amara.”

I turned, only to find him leaning against his car, watching me with that infuriating smirk.

And the worst part?

I knew I wouldn’t be getting any sleep.

Not after that.