Cadence (Ruby Riot Book 1) (18 page)

“Shit,” he mutters.

I meet her brown eyes and she scrutinises me. Her brows tug together, and I’m uncomfortable by her judgment of me. “Just do it and let's go,” I hiss.

The girl watches him with open adoration. Jax has dropped his arm from me to take the menu and leaving me vulnerable. I dart a look around; and as soon as Jax takes the menu, several other people take this as the signal he's here for an autograph session and head over.

“Jax, we should go. Move.”

A different girl’s phone camera flashes in our face and I blink, dazzled. Jax’s fingers grip mine and he pulls us away. People call his name and he picks up the pace, pushing past people and through the glass doors.

The Parisian evening is cool and my rapid breath mists in front of me. A not so-welcoming group of photographers hangs in the street outside the cafe, the flash from their camera bigger and brighter than the girls’ cameras inside.

“Fuck, where's the car?” asks Jax.

The volume of people calling Jax's name rises and I'm jostled as people descend on us. “Jax! Move!”

He's continues to walk forward, head bowed and my pulse rate hikes as people start shouting my name, asking who I am.

A burly man emerges through the crowd, with relief I recognise him from the airport as a part-driver, part-security detail.

“Why did you come out of the front doors?” he shouts as he places himself between the press pack and me.

“Because I didn't fucking think about taking the back way!” Jax shouts back.

A large, black Audi is pulled up on the side of the road and he shepherds us over. “Get in!”

Shaking, I grab the handle as Jax stands behind. We barely have time to put the seatbelt on before the guy hits the accelerator and we speed away into the Paris traffic.

Stunned by the reaction, I stare forward, chest tight with panic. “Holy crap, Jax. Does that happen every time you go out in public?”

He rakes fingers through his fringe. “Not as bad as that. They weren’t at the bar this afternoon when I was with the other guys.”

“Everybody knows you and Blue Phoenix were there tonight!” calls the man from the driver’s seat. “They were waiting for all and any of you dumb enough to step outside the front.”

Jax takes my damp palm. “Are you okay?”

“This evening has not turned out the way I expected. They knew my name already!”

As we head back to the hotel, I take calming breaths, remain cuddled against Jax, and consider what the hell happens next.

Chapter Twenty-Four

TEGAN

The illuminated forecourt of the hotel should be a welcome respite but there're group of fans and photographers sitting on the low wall outside. The man, who has introduced himself as Jean-Marc, swears and manoeuvres the car through a side street and around the back of the imposing building.

“Have you been doing something you shouldn’t?” he asks. “They’re out in force!”

A couple of skilled paparazzi have found their way through the metal security gates to the back entrance to the hotel and step forward with large cameras and smug looks as the car approaches.

“For fuck’s sake!” snaps Jax.

I don’t want to leave the safety of the car but the two men reach the car as it stops. No, I have to. We jump from the car and take the short walk to the building’s back doors, again partially shielded by Jean-Marc. When we enter the sanctuary of the hotel, I slump onto the nearest chair.

“This is crazy, Jax!” I say, short of breath.

Jax stares into space, hands in his jacket pockets. He turns bewildered eyes to me. “How the hell did that happen?”

A young guy in the smart blue and black hotel uniform stops as he passes and looks at us.

I stand. “Jax, take me back to my room.”

My phone beeps an alert again. I've ignored them, not wanting to be caught up in anything until I return to the hotel, but this time check the phone. Twenty alerts display on the screen and Jax's phone rings too.

“What? Yeah,” he says as he answers. “I'm fucking aware of that!”

A couple pass, and the blonde haired woman glances at us over her shoulder. I'm not staying around any longer. Ignoring Jax's conversation, I stride across the shining marble floor and hit the button on each one of the three elevators.

Jax joins me and continues his phone conversation. “We didn't think. Stop giving me shit, Riley!” He pauses. “Tomorrow. I'm done for tonight.”

He cancels the call and taps the phone against his chin. “What's wrong?” I ask.

“Did you ever want to post something that goes viral?”

“What do you mean? We only uploaded the picture an hour ago! Surely you're not that famous.”

He frowns at me. “Slow news week in the celebrity world, I guess.”

The top hotel floor is booked exclusively for the key members of the tour entourage. I welcome the peace and security of the hallway, but that isn’t enough for me to feel safe. I can't get to my suite fast enough.

With trembling hands, I swipe the keycard and shove open the door. Jax follows me inside and closes the door.

I flop onto the sofa beneath the window, across the suite.

“What did Riley say?” I ask Jax.

“She's not happy because she has to step in and contact the PR company’s offices in the States. They have to deal with this, it’s too late at night for anyone here.”

“The States? Deal with what?”

“Our stupid ass move - her words, not mine.”

For a few moments, I chew a nail. “So a few photographers want pictures? They were there anyway, probably wanting a shot of the Blue Phoenix couples. We just happened to be there first. They’ll forget about us by tomorrow.”

Jax sits next to me. “You think? Riley seems convinced the world exploded.”

“You said yourself she’s prone to overreacting at situations.”

He rest back against the sofa. “Yeah, let them sort this. Not like we've done anything apart from share a picture of ourselves.”

“Exactly. A picture would've appeared even if we hadn't put one out. Someone would’ve taken a shot of us leaving together.”

“Yeah.”

I'm happy Jax agrees, but a niggling voice tells me I'm downplaying this to myself too much. I pull my phone out, preparing to run through the notifications and find out exactly how viral this is. Jax takes the phone from me. “Leave that.”

“But I want to check Twitter.”

“No. Like I said to Riley, deal with this shit tomorrow.”

I swallow. I'm used to checking my social media at least every couple of hours and if there's something happening, I want to see. “Please, Jax.”

“No,” he replies firmly and puts the phone in his jacket pocket. “Tonight was supposed to be about me telling you how I felt, not just the world. Do you care more about what they think?”

“No, but I want to know what's on there.” I attempt to retrieve my phone from his pocket.

Jax grabs both my wrists in one hand. “Tegan. Leave it.”

The adrenaline of the evening courses through my body, from the desire for Jax and the panic of the last half hour. Jax pushes me back against the sofa arm, my wrists still in his hand.

“Forget about them,” he says.

“How can I?”

Jax raises an eyebrow. “Happy to distract you.” His lips almost touch mine. “But I’m keeping hold of your hands until you promise not to look at your phone.”

I attempt to pull them away; and as I wriggle, my body moves against Jax’s. He presses himself further against me, keeping a tight hold. I’m unable to move against his weight, but I’m not complaining. “Kiss me.”

My face tingles as he traces his tongue along my lips, and I part them. He presses his warm mouth harder against mine; but before he has the chance to do anything else, I turn my head.

“Let go of my hands.”

“No.”

“Why? I promise not to touch my phone.” I nip his bottom lip. “I can touch you instead.”

Jax doesn’t need any more persuasion and releases my hands. I curl my fingers into his hair, pull his face closer, and pour my frustration and anxiety into the kiss, gripping him to me. Jax winds his hand into my hair too, holding me in place while his tongue strokes mine. I’ve wanted to kiss him this way since the moment he told everybody I was his.

I slip my hand beneath his shirt and run my fingers along his stomach, tracing the contours of his muscles. Jax pushes up my shirt, his hands rough against my skin. His lips move to my neck as he kisses my pulse point, nipping his way to my collarbone, breath coming in short bursts.

I shift against Jax and his hand brushes the edge of my cotton bra. He groans as I arch myself into his hand, stroking my nipple through the fabric. With this, he trips the switch on the desire I’ve held back all evening. This man triggers arousal without touching me, and can turn me on with a kiss. Imagine what the hell will happen with his hands and mouth anywhere else; I’ve had tastes of that, but tonight I need to know.

Kissing him harder, I unbutton Jax’s shirt, smoothing my hands over his chest and across his taut stomach. Jax pulls his mouth away and rests his forehead on mine.

“Why are you stopping? I thought you were distracting me,” I say.

“How distracted do you want to be?” he asks hoarsely.

“Completely.”

“After what you said the other day, I need you to tell me what I can and can’t do.” Jax slides a hand across my belly, his fingers dipping into the waistband of my jeans. Heat flows downwards, and I ache for him to explore further. He’s barely touched me and I’m falling apart beneath his hands.

I push his open shirt and jacket from his shoulders. “I don't want any more restraint. If people are making my life hell because I’m your girlfriend, you'd better make all this worth my while.”

He sits back, a wicked glint of promise in his eyes. “I’m sure I can manage that.”

I rub my lips together, tasting him as I pull Jax’s shirt from his arms. As he drops the shirt to the floor, I climb onto his lap, seizing his head and delving my tongue into his mouth. He drops back against the sofa arm, a small noise of surprise catching in his throat.

Jax pushes his hands beneath my t-shirt and I pull the hem upwards, indicating he should take it off. Five minutes of struggling with buttons, zippers, and clothes later, and we’re naked on the sofa. Almost. As if it’s going to make any difference, he’s pressed against me, the barrier of my panties and his briefs the only thing between us.

I’m deliriously lost. Jax’s teasing my nipples with his tongue, licking and sucking. The lust that’s built between us all night – for the last two weeks – flows through my body, at each point my skin touches his my body burns.

I murmur something – his name? I don’t know; my mind can’t focus on anything but the aching need for him. Jax growls my name, and dives his hand into my panties, fingers seeking my clit and pushes his thumb against me. Jax’s breath comes harder against my face, as he glides his fingers through my wetness. I push myself against his hand and Jax pushes a finger inside me. The sensation jolts through my body and I tip my head back, catching my breath. He moves his face back to my breasts and flicks my nipples with his tongue as he strokes a spot inside hardwired to the rest of my body.

I dig my fingers into Jax’s back, running my hands across his powerful shoulders, pulling his hair, holding him as he gives himself over to pleasuring me. Why have I waited this long for something I’ve wanted since the first time he kissed me?

Jax shifts off me and I open my eyes in surprise. The light from the nearby lamp casts a glow over his body, shadowing the curves of his muscles. His fringe sticks against his head and he watches through lust-darkened eyes as he stops the amazing things he’s achieving with his hand.

I wriggle against his stilled fingers, dizzy, my breathing laboured. “Don’t stop.”

A slow smile crosses his face. “Remember how you teased me?”

I heave in a breath. “Not like this, I didn’t.”

“You did. Every time we kissed, every time we stopped.” Jax lifts his hand and slips a finger into his mouth. “You taste so fucking good.”

When he traces my nipple with his damp finger, Jax lightning trips along my spine and sets every nerve ending alight. I growl and attempt to get hold of him again; but he laughs at me, gripping both my wrists in one hand. Jax leans over, kissing along my neck until he reaches my ear. “Do you like being teased?”

“No.”

“Shame.” He releases my hands and slides his tongue along my neck, across my breasts and down to my belly, inch by tormenting inch, and my body buzzes in anticipation. As he slides a hand along my thigh, I shift closer to his fingers; but he stops close to the apex, gripping my skin.

I exhale loudly, heart thumping as I wait for his next move. Jax switches to kissing along my thigh to where his hand grips my thigh. Hot breath caresses me before he swipes his tongue along my wet centre, once, and stops. I suppress a gasp and fight down the urge to push against him, to show Jax the effect he’s having. When I don’t respond, he leisurely draws his tongue across me until he reaches my clit. Lightning arcs from the place he touches, through my limbs, and I close my eyes, yielding.

He stops again and I grit my teeth.

This man knows what he’s doing to me, and he knows what he’s doing, period.

“You’re getting wetter, Tegan. Stop pretending you can handle me teasing you.”

Before I can reply, Jax’s mouth covers me, running the tip of his tongue the length of my sex, teasing until he elicits a moan, and stops. Repeatedly. Each time my thighs draw tight in frustrated pleasure, aching for his mouth again, anticipating.

“Are you all right?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Good.” Jax slides a finger into me, darting his tongue against my clit as he matches the movement with his fingers and I spiral to the edge, blood pulsing in my ears, the need for release shaking through my body. I’m aware the moans in the room are coming from my mouth; but I no longer care as my vision blurs, close to the edge.

And he stops. Again.

“Jax!” I grip the edge of the sofa.

“What?”

I clench my teeth at his smug tone, instead grabbing a cushion and pulling it over my head to curse into the rough material. Jax pulls the cushion from my damp face, an amused curve on his mouth. “You okay?”

His heart beats as rapidly as mine, body as hot and hard. His arms either side of my head, holding him up, shake too and Jax settles between my legs, the heat of his hard length pushing against my sensitive flesh. Self-control exists with the hunger in his eyes, but barely.

“Fine. You?” I blow hair from my face, keeping my tone light.

“Seriously, Tegan?”

“Seriously, Jax.”

“Hmm.” Strong fingers slide along my thigh again and when he reaches the top, I squeeze my legs around his hand so he can’t move any higher.

Summoning up energy, I push sideways where we’re lying on the edge of the sofa and we tumble to the ground. Jax lets out a heavy breath as his back hits the floor and I straddle him, hand on his chest. Our eyes meet in challenge again, and I swear I’m going to wipe that smug smile off his face. My body is screaming at me to give myself over to him again, to beg him to finish what he’s started; but that’s what he wants.

For a few moments, I look down at Jax. Normally naked and exposed in front of a guy isn’t something I can do; but everything I do with Jax feels as if it should be.

“So where are the famous Jax Lewis moves?” I ask in a low voice. “I won’t have anything to tell if you stop now.”