Chapter 141: Paige

Chapter 141: Paige
The hospital hallway is quiet, the kind of silence that feels unnatural—too sterile, too calm, like the walls are absorbing all the sound. My crutches tap softly against the linoleum as I walk, each step careful but steady.

But my mind? My mind is nowhere near calm.

I can’t stop thinking about everything Jaxon just said to me.

I would tattoo you into my fucking skin if I could.

I want to breathe in your air and nothing else.

The thought of not being able to touch you drives me mad.

Every word he whispered to me still echoes in my head, pressing against my ribs, making my heart pound like it’s either going to stop or explode. It was probably the most he’d ever spoken at once, and every single thing he said made my stomach flip, my skin burn, my entire body ache for him.

Erin doesn’t matter.

Silas doesn’t matter.

The scars I thought were ugly, the bruises I was embarrassed about—none of that matters to him. He sees me, all of me, and somehow, I’m still his.

I wasn’t able to say anything when he said all those things. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I had no idea how to respond to something so raw, so intense, so fucking perfect.

But I feel all of those things about him too.

Every little bit of Jaxon feels like something made just for me.

When I need to be calm, his touch is the most soothing thing in the world. When I feel that fire deep in my stomach, he’s the gasoline that makes it burn ten times hotter. He’s everything—always in the right place, at the right time, always knowing exactly what I need before I even say it out loud.

I glance at him from the corner of my eye.

He doesn’t even look at me, but somehow, he still knows.

"Stop looking at me like that, sweetheart," he says, smirking as he walks beside me.

I bite my lip to keep from grinning. "Like what?"

"Like you’re about to do something reckless."

"I’m innocent," I lie, my smile widening.

Jaxon just shakes his head, smirk still in place.

God, I love this. I love him.

But when we reach the elevator, my smile starts to fade.

My last elevator ride was a nightmare.

The cold metal against my back, Silas’s hands wrapped around my throat, the shattering of the mirror behind my skull, the way he dragged me out as if I was nothing more than a ragdoll—

I swallow, my fingers tightening around the crutches.

Jaxon doesn’t say anything, but I feel him watching me.

And then, without hesitation, he reaches for my hand.

I exhale slowly, letting his warmth ground me, letting him pull me back.

Because that’s the thing about Jaxon.

He always knows.

The elevator dings, the doors sliding open, and we step inside together. His grip on my hand stays firm, his thumb tracing light circles on my skin, and I hold on, my heartbeat steadying.

We’re just going down to the first floor. To the gift shops.

Nothing bad is going to happen here.

It took some serious convincing to get Jaxon to agree to this trip. He wanted me to rest, but I couldn’t keep wearing hospital clothes. The itchy, paper-thin fabric, the awful oversized fit—it was too much. I needed something normal.

And after some back-and-forth arguing, he finally relented, saying that if I had to go, then he was coming with me.

The elevator doors open, and he gently tugs me forward, guiding me toward the little row of hospital shops.

Most of them are useless to me—one sells baby clothes, another is for maternity wear, and the rest are filled with overpriced flowers and stuffed animals.

But then—

I see it.

An actual clothing store.

It’s small, not exactly a full boutique, but it has options.

I feel my face light up as I head inside, browsing through the racks.

There aren’t a ton of choices, but there’s a decent selection—some hoodies, a soft sweater, a few t-shirts, and a pair of tights that look way more comfortable than the stiff hospital pants I’ve been forced to wear.

Jaxon watches as I pick out a few things, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.

When I bring everything to the cashier, he steps forward before I can even reach for my wallet.

"Let me take care of it," he says, pulling out his own money.

I don’t argue.

Partially because I know he won’t let me pay, but mostly because I like it.

I like him taking care of me. I like being his.

After the store, we stop by the food stands, and I eye him curiously.

"Why didn’t you ever come down here instead of eating at the cafeteria?" I ask, glancing at the sushi display.

Jaxon doesn’t answer immediately, just looks away slightly.

"Lines were too long," he mutters.

I pause, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Oh my god," I say, grinning. "I knew it!"

He exhales through his nose, shaking his head slightly.

"It’s not a big deal, Paige."

"It is a big deal," I tease. "You rushed to get food every time, didn’t you?"

He doesn’t answer, but the slight twitch of his lips confirms everything.

I let out a triumphant laugh, pointing at him. "You’re so predictable, Steele."

He just smirks, but I catch the way his eyes soften slightly when he looks at me.

I get sushi, and Jaxon grabs a bento box, and we head back upstairs.

Once we’re in the room, I take my new clothes and slip into the bathroom to change.

The second I pull the t-shirt over my head, I feel so much better. The soft fabric, the way it actually fits me—it’s not much, but it makes me feel more like myself again.

When I come out, Jaxon is already sitting on the bed, flipping through the TV channels.

We eat quietly, the occasional glance, the occasional touch.

And then—

"How was the meeting with Erin?" I ask.

Jaxon eyes me for a second, like he’s trying to gauge my reaction before answering.

"It was fine," he says eventually. "She gave me the location. I have the file. I’ll show you after we eat."

I nod, swallowing a bite of sushi.

"Tomorrow," Jaxon continues, his voice more serious now, "we need to go over Plan B."

I frown slightly. "Plan B?"

"In case Erin isn’t who she says she is." He leans back against the pillows, his expression unreadable. "Because I’m leaving with that stash no matter what."

I study him for a moment.

"And after that?" I ask quietly.

He turns his head to look at me fully.

Then, slowly, his lips curve into that devastating smirk.

"Next?" he murmurs.

He shifts closer, his fingers brushing against my wrist, his eyes dark and intent.

"Next, I kidnap your cute little ass and take you far from here."

Heat floods through me.

And then, I smile.