I looked up, seeing Jax nod gently as he stood on the other side of the dark gray granite island with his T-shirt tossed over his shoulder.

I braced myself, turning away from his eyes as I slipped my phone back into my purse.

His slow footsteps fell behind me. “He looks like he comes from a good family.”

I focused on the cabinets ahead, speaking firmly. “What does someone who comes from a good family look like?”

Did he think he wasn’t good enough? Or that his baggage was too heavy? After everything he knew about me, that couldn’t be what he was worried about.

I felt him brush against my back, but he didn’t put his hands on me. His voice hovered everywhere, though. “Do you want him?” he asked in barely a whisper, and I winced.

Jesus.

“Yeah, I want him.” I swallowed the tears. “Five days ago I let you fuck me on a desk while I cried and told you I loved you, but I want him.”

Turning around, I locked eyes with him, unable to hide the pain I was feeling. He raised me up and then tore me down, and I knew it showed.

And then I dropped my eyes, noticing them. He’d pulled the T-shirt off his shoulder, and my composure broke. I let my stunned gaze wander over his naked chest, seeing the bite-mark tattoo on his neck and the script over his heart.

These violent delights have violent ends.

“Oh, my God,” I whispered, remembering the words from Romeo and Juliet.

“I don’t care about anything that much.” He’d said that when I asked why he didn’t have tattoos, and now he had three. He had my bite marks.

I reached up to touch his face, but he pulled away from me, backing up.

His face looked so childlike, confused, and sad as if he didn’t know what move to make next. Then his stunning blue eyes blinked, and he finally looked up at me.

“Everything was real,” he rasped, his usual stone expression gone. “But he’d be better for you, Juliet. Anyone else would but me.”

He backed away and finally turned, walking out the patio doors, while I just stood there staring after him.

My face ached, and everything hurt. Everything, all at the same time. And I brought my hand back to my chest, trying to soothe my heart.

No more.

I set my bottle down and left the room, walking toward the stairs without even one glance back. I was going to bed, and then I was going to rebuild my life.

Closing the door to my room, I felt my phone vibrate, and I shoved my hand into my purse, letting out a heavy sigh. This day needed to end.

Seeing a number I didn’t recognize, I answered anyway as I threw off my purse. “Hello?”

“Juliet Carter?”

“Yes?” I plopped down on the bed.

“Hi, this is First National. We’re calling to verify recent activity on your account?”

My bank? I sat up, wondering what recent activity they needed to verify. I hadn’t purchased more than a Diet Coke with my debit card in over a week.

“Um, okay,” I answered, giving her the go-ahead.

“We have a deposit made into your checking account yesterday,” she started, “in the amount of fifty thousand dollars …”

Fifty what?

“… and then a transfer out of your account,” she continued, “in the amount of twenty-nine thousand five hundred to Arizona State University.”

I felt my heart leap in my chest, and I shot off the bed, gritting my teeth. Twenty-nine thousand five hundred was exactly what my out-of-state tuition cost.

She spoke up again. “Do you verify this activity, ma’am?”

I jerked the phone away from my ear and clicked END.

“Motherfucker,” I snarled, shoving my feet back into my flip-fops and tossing my phone on the bed.

Running back downstairs, I rushed into the kitchen, seeing Jared sitting alone at the kitchen table, Three Doors Down’s “Here Without You” drifting in from outside.

“Where’s Jax?” I demanded.

“Just left,” he answered, resting his hand on his chin. “Need to borrow my car?”

And he slid his keys across the table, shocking me. No one drove Jared’s car.

But he was in a mood, Tate was drunk, and shit was wrong. And I couldn’t think about other people’s problems right at this moment, so I grabbed them and ran.

“Thanks,” I called.

Jamming out the front door, I climbed into Jared’s car, turned it on, and released the clutch as I pressed the gas.

And my angry shoulders sank when the car stalled.

New car, new sweet spot. I hate clutches!

Okay, not really. Turning the ignition again, I shifted my feet, feeling for it the way Jax had taught me, and finally took off. Accelerating quickly, I shot into second gear and then third, not stopping as I barreled onto the highway without even checking oncoming traffic.

Pushing in the gas, I shot into fourth and then fifth, barely noticing the trees flying by. Lord help any animal crossing the street, because the only thing lighting up the road were my headlights. There was no way I would be able to stop quickly.

I squinted, seeing the taillights of another car, and immediately recognized Jax’s NATIVE license plate.

Speeding up, I damn near climbed on his ass, letting him know loud and clear that I was here, before swerving around him and cutting in front of him on the road. He honked his horn and swerved, probably afraid I would hit him.

But I knew he had to recognize Jared’s car.

Jerking the wheel, I skidded to the side of the road, where I pulled to a stop.

I heard the gravel kick up under the tires and saw Jax had come in right behind me.

I pushed my hair behind my ears and turned off the car.

“What the hell are you doing?” I heard him shout from behind me, and I swung the door open, climbed out, and slammed it shut.

“You know what?” I shouted, charging up to him. “I had a clean-cut boyfriend from a good family. His mom made brownies, and his dad played golf with the mayor.” I shoved Jax in the chest. “He cheated on me!”

He stared at me wide-eyed as I pushed into his space again.

“And Shane dated the student class president,” I pointed out, advancing as he retreated. “He got straight A’s, wore cuff links to church, and his pants were always ironed.” I shoved Jax again, watching him stumble. “He was gay!” I yelled.

I bared my teeth and kept pushing him. “You know that football jock who’s on the cover of this magazine or that?” I jeered, shoving his chest again. “Well, he date-raped a girl in college. Or how about the mom you were jealous you didn’t have in the third grade?” I pushed him again. “Yeah, she’s on every antidepressant under the sun!”

He just kept backing up, speechless, with shock written all over his face.

“Stop being a fucking moron,” I growled, “and break the cycle, asshole!” I pushed him back again. “It’s all an illusion, Jax! There’s nothing wrong with you, and there’s nothing in this world better than you!” I cried, gritting my teeth and feeling the tears pool in my eyes.

“You saved me, and I love you!” Every muscle in my body was hot with fury. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me! The best thing in my life, jerk-off!” Completely worked up, I slapped him on the arm, seeing him wince but take it. “And if you don’t want me”—I slapped him again—“then stop taking care of me!” I ordered.

“Take your tuition money,” I snarled, shoving him again with all my weight, “and shove it up your ass!”

And I whirled around, marching back to Jared’s car as I swiped my hand across the tear on my cheek.

Asshole little shit.

But before I reached the car, Jax hooked my elbow and spun me back around.

“Come here,” he growled, and lifted me underneath my arms, holding me above him.

I gasped, looking down at him and seeing the veins bulging on his neck.

He smiled, excitement flashing in his eyes as he stared up at me. “I fucking love you, baby.”

My eyes rounded, and I whimpered at the shiver shooting straight from my heart down to my core.

“Huh?” My voice was barely a peep. Oh, my God.

He shook his head, surprise and happiness written all over his face. “I do. I love you, Juliet. And you’re right, okay?” He nodded. “You’re right. I thought I wasn’t good enough. I thought you’d wind up being sorry that I was in your life, that I wasn’t the man I was supposed to be, and I wouldn’t be able to make you proud. But I was wrong. We belong together.”

And he brought me down, crushing his lips to mine.

The moan came from the back of my throat, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight.

He kissed the corner of my mouth and hugged me close, whispering against my neck. “I love you, and if you love me,” he breathed out, “and I’ve been good for you, and you’re not lying to me about that, then I’m keeping you. I’m fucking keeping you.”

“Jax,” I cried softly, letting my head fall back as he moved his lips over my cheeks and jawline. “I love you so much. Only ever you.”

His arms, still under mine, reached behind me and threaded through my hair, holding my face still. “Don’t go to Arizona,” he whispered against my mouth. “You belong with me, and I don’t want you more than ten feet away. Ever again.”