I stare at him.

“I’ll take you, bro,” Duke says.

“Nah,” Jax says. “I need you to help wire up that sound system. You’re the only one making any sense when it comes to it.”

Duke grins. “That’s because I’m awesome.”

Jax shakes his head, smirking, and turns to me. “Can you spare five?”

I nod. “Sure.”

I escort him into the hall and down to the restrooms. The moment we round the corner out of sight, he slams me against the wall and crushes his lips down on mine. I groan and curl my fingers around his neck, kissing him deep. God, I love how he tastes. He kisses me hard at first, then slowly begins getting softer and softer, until our mouths are making love.

It feels incredible.

“It’s been hell going all day without kissing you,” he murmurs, nuzzling his nose into my neck.

“You’re telling me. I hate pretending like I hardly know you.”

He pulls me closer, fingers curled around my hip. “If I had more than five minutes, I’d fuck you against this wall.”

“Where’s the closest storage closet?”

He stares hungrily at me. “Five minutes, baby, it’s not enough to devour you.”

“Just take me to the closest one.”

He lets me go and takes my hand, pulling me past the bathrooms. He finds a linen closet and uses his key to unlock it. He pulls me inside and I immediately get to work, dropping to my knees in front of him.

“Fuck, kitten.”

I jerk his belt off, hungry to taste him, desperate for more. I unbutton his pants and yank them down just enough to free his cock. I wrap my hand around the base and stroke, squeezing softly and then hard, working him until he’s thick and full in my palms. Then I lower my head and snake my tongue out, sliding it around his soft head.

“Fuck, yes,” he growls, pressing his hands to the wall in front of us.

I tease him like that until he’s massaging my head with need, urging me on. When his grunts turn into feral moans, I finally open my mouth and slide down, letting his cock fill my mouth. He makes a feral hissing sound and thrusts his hips. I whimper against him and suck him in deep, using one hand to pump the base of his cock as I work over the head with my mouth.

His cock swells in my mouth, and I shift my hand, knowing he’s close and dip it lower, cupping his balls. I roll them around in my hand and the sounds he’s making above me tell me he loves it. A lot. He rasps my name and jerks his hips faster and deeper until my mouth is so stretched around him my lips burn. Then, with one last thrust, he groans, “Coming, fuck, baby, I’m coming.”

I don’t let him pull out, even though he tries. No, I relish in his bellows of pleasure as I swallow everything he gives, loving every second of it. The moment he’s done, I carefully pull back and look up at him. He stares down at me with eyes so full of lust, it makes my heart pound. He helps me up and adjusts his clothes. “I think I might need, like, a breath mint or something.”

He laughs low. “Yeah, I don’t think Duke will appreciate you breathing on him after that.”

“Ew.” I laugh.

“Come on, we’ll get something to sort that out. You ready?”

I nod.

He opens the door and peers out. The coast is clear so he pulls me out too. He looks left and right, then turns to me and adjusts my shirt. I give him a once-over, and figure no one will know he just got blown in the closet. We go to the bathroom anyway, and I wash my face while he uses it, then he finds me a bottle of cola and we make our way back to the meeting room, both of us floating on air.

It feels amazing.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The meeting starts around four, but I managed to get a two-hour rest in to prepare for the night. Jax is in full business mode now, especially considering people are flowing in rapidly. They are all searched thoroughly, and only allowed in when we’re certain they’re safe. By the time the doors close and they’re all inside, I feel like a pervert. I’ve felt up that many bodies.

We all spread out over the room, so as not to smother Jax. I’m closest to him, standing to his left near the stage, Duke is by the entrance and Devon is near the restrooms. People are milling around us, talking and interacting, most of them sticking like flies to Jax. It’s somewhat of a meeting/dinner, so it’s a lot more casual. People talk, laugh, drink champagne and eat canapés.

Jax looks stunning in his black tuxedo that’s been perfectly tailored for him. His hair is slightly messier now it’s growing out, and his grey eyes are welcoming but firm as he talks to people, shaking hands and nodding at their questions, answering what he can. There are businessmen from all over the state, as well as managers that run his other hotels. There are also sponsors.

I don’t smile or interact, I just keep my hands behind my back and nod at anyone who is polite enough to say hello. We’re not here to interact. It’s hard because I’m usually quite a social person, but I have to hold everything in and let people know I’m not here to mess around. Instead I keep my eyes on Jax, so entranced by how perfect he is.

A blond woman sashays up to him just as dinner is being served and my attention focuses on her. She’s wearing a tight, floor-length red gown that makes her look so gorgeous and curvy I want to scream. Her beautiful satin-straight long hair is loose and flowing around her hips. She’s stunning, like a model, and I have no doubt this is the kind of woman Jax has had on his arm in the past.

My heart pangs.

Will that ever be me? Truly? Will I ever get the chance to be that girl to him, and even if I did, would I be enough? I don’t look like her, and my job is always going to keep me away from home. A strange ache starts forming in my belly as I wonder about what kind of future Jax and I could possibly have. Does he even want a future? Or does he just like the thrill of it, because we’re sneaking around?

I don’t think so, but I can’t be sure.

We haven’t had the chance to just sit and talk about what’s happening here.

I keep my eyes on the blond girl as she takes Jax’s arm and leans in, brushing her lips against his ear as she speaks. He grins, and my heart does a flip flop. A painful one. Her fingers move up and down his arm and then she leans back and her hand goes up and slips something in his pocket. I clench my teeth as she saunters away. I want to smack her right into next week.

Jax’s eyes flick to me but I look away, hoping he didn’t catch me watching.

“You look as bored as I feel.”

I flinch and turn to see a handsome man in a tux smiling at me. He’s got the most incredible blue eyes I’ve ever seen.

“It’s my job,” I say.

“It doesn’t look like it’s very fun.”

I shrug. “It’s not, but it’s worth it.”

He smiles, genuinely, warmly. “What’s your name?”

“Delaney. Yours?”

“Michael.”

“Nice to meet you, Michael.”

He reaches out and I shake his hand, glad to have something to break the monotony, even though I really shouldn’t be having a conversation with him. I’m hardly going to tell him to get lost, though. That’s rude and I’m not that kind of person.

“Do you know Jaxson, then?” he asks, continuing to hold my hand, which is a little awkward.