Vengeance (15 page)

“Jax,” I whimper. “Harder.”

He drives harder until I am smothering my screams with a pillow, which I so clumsily shoved over my face. I erupt, and my body shakes beneath him as it shatters into a million pieces. I am still convulsing and shuddering when I feel him press into me. He takes my hips and lifts them, then drives in so hard I yelp.

“Too big, too big.”
I whimper.

“Fuck, say that again.”

“
Ahhhh
.”

He pulls out and slams back in until I am gripping the sheets with white knuckled force. Oh good lord. I can hear his skin slapping against mine, he is thrusting that hard. What happened to making love? Before I can ask the question, he has slowed. I know it isn’t over, that much I can feel. He leans over me and takes the pillow from my face. He is flushed and panting, and boy does he look sexy. He kisses me deeply, then pulls his hips out and slowly, pushes himself back in.

“I was going to make
love,
I just had to fuck a bit first.”

I open my mouth to answer, but he closes his over mine.
The taste of him; oh
God
the taste.
He has that flavor, that manly flavor. It makes everything inside me come alive. His hips move slowly, even lazily, and his body is slick with sweat. I run my hands up and down his back, taking the time to feel every inch of him. Every
God
Damn
ed beautiful inch. He moans as our bodies become more desperate. We are building, higher and higher.

“Jax, I can’t…I can’t hold on.”

“Hold on, just a minute.” He pants into my ear.

I grip his shoulders, clenching my eyes shut as I force back the pleasure that is about to explode in my body. His muscles tense and his moans become deeper. I can’t hold it,
God
, I can’t. His hips thrust faster and that only makes it worse. I groan into his hot, wet flesh, and he thrusts deep and hard.

“Now, NOW!”
He roars.

On command, I explode with a shriek. His hand clamps over my mouth and his head buries into the pillow as he bellows his own release. When it is over, we lay panting, unable to move. His head is still in the pillow beside me, and his body is still shuddering.

“Are you dead?” I whisper.

He snorts and lifts his head.
“Nearly.”

“That…was amazing.”

“Isn’t it always?”

I smile. “Yeah, but that…”

He rolls off and lays beside me, pulling me into his arms. I trace the tattoos on his chest and breathe in the smell of sweaty, sex driven man.

“What do you think was your best time?”

I smile and think back. “I can think of a few. I liked our wedding night.”

“When you un-manned me?”

I laugh. “Yep and I liked the day you spanked me in the kitchen.”

He growls. “Oh yeah, that is on my list too.”

“What was yours?”

He kisses my hair.
“The first time.”

“You liked that?”

“Oh yeah, I loved that.”

“I was so inexperienced.”

“That was the best part.”

“Second best?”

“The kitchen spanking, a
nd the night I made love to you but I must say that day in my ship before I left was a memorable one.
”

I sigh. “Yeah, that was nice.”

“You never disappoint darlin.”

“Ditto.”

“I did get you something.”

“You did?”

He sits and leans over the bed, digging through his jeans. He pulls out a box and hands it to me.

“What is it?”

He smiles. “Open.”

I open the box and gasp. Inside is a locket; I already know what will be inside. I pull it out with shaking hands and open it, to see three pictures.
One of Jax and Lilly, the other of our baby son Rusty Junior, who passed away.
I yelp loudly, and my hand covers my mouth. Jax is beside me in seconds.

“It was too soon, wasn’t it?
God
baby, sorry.”

“No, this…it is perfect. Thank you,” I whisper. “You have given me a way to have all of you with me.”

Jax sighs, with relief I think. “I miss him bad.”

“Me too.”

“Do you think…we will go back for another?”

“I don’t know Jax, I really don’t.”

“You know if you become immortal too, we can’t have any more kids.”

I look over at him. “I know.”

“Is that what you want?”

“After RJ, I just…couldn’t bear if something went wrong again.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

“What about you Jax, do you want another?”

“I nearly had a son, who I lost and t
he other I barely get to see
.”

I stroke his hand. “Sorry, I know it must hurt.”

“I will do the best I can for Aiden, but…I am happy right now. I have you and Lilly, and I am happy.”

I smile weakly. “You know, I think you are right.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.”

“Then you will consider touching the treasure?”

“I will, yeah.
Just not right now.”

He nods, though I can see it bothers him, he doesn’t argue.

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I am shattered.
Big day tomorrow.
What do you say to a few more fucks and a cuddle?”

I laugh loudly. “You always know how to make me laugh.”

“I was kidding about the fucks, but I am up for that cuddle.”

I shove him. “We all know you don’t cuddle Watts.”

He grins. “And as always, for you I make exceptions.”

“In that case…”

I lean over and fall into his arms, he holds me close to his chest, and I can hear his heart beating steadily.

“Who says I don’t want the fucks too?” I murmur into his skin.

He grins and flattens me onto the bed.

“In that case…”

CHAPTER
10

When I wake in the morning, I am wrapped in six feet of solid male. I smile. I wiggle and slide out of Jax’s arms. He is in a deep sleep and doesn’t even flinch. I stand and look down at my sleeping husband, so relieved he is home with me. I dress and quietly sneak out of the room. I make a coffee and then settle on the front porch. I can see the police car out front.

“Morning.”

I look over and see Mack walking out.

“Hi.” I say simply.

“Still sulking?”

I gape at him. “Why are you being so harsh to me Mack, I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”

My words seem to hurt him because he winces. “Is that what you think I am doing, being harsh?”

“You never speak to me like…like…”

“A father?”

I realize it is that simple. I am hurt because he is being a father, when really, it is what I want and need.

“I…
never…I guess
.”

“It’s hurting you?”

“Well, you yelled at me and…I never…thought you would. I am not saying it is bad, but you are usually so soft and gentle, you call me sweet names and you hug me a lot. Yesterday, when you yelled at me, after everything that happened between us, I felt like maybe you don’t love me anymore.”

He takes my face in his hands, and I take a good look at his face. Mack has aged, but only slightly. He has not a speck of grey, his eyes are as blue as mine, and he is handsome, very handsome. I am lucky.

“You think I don’t love you? Do you know why I spoke to you like that? It was because I do love you; I love you more than my life, more than anything. You are my baby, since the day you were born and I missed out on most of your life. I was devastated and never able to forgive myself for what happened on your wedding night, but don’t you ever doubt that I love you. I don’t want you hurt, and I know sometimes that takes me being a father. If that is what I have to do, then it is what I will do.”

My lip trembles at his words and he sighs, pulling me into his arms. I melt into him; I love my father, and I hate that we have been so tense.

“I am sorry for what I did to you, the way I spoke. I
never…never
wanted to lose you for that long.” I whisper.

“I know angel.”

“I was hurt yesterday because I thought…well now I know I thought wrong, so it doesn’t matter.”

“You matter to me, always have, always will. No matter what, don’t you forget
that.
”

“Daddy?”
I ask, sitting back.

“Yeah?”

“Do you still love her? Mom I mean.”

He sighs and rubs his head.
“Yeah.”

“And Sam?”

“Of course, it is different though. Your mother was the one; you know? She was the love of my life, and she chose another man, took my daughter and broke my heart. I love her, but I can never want her again. I can never move on from the hurt. Sam is sweet, beautiful and loves me the way I loved your
mom
. I love her back, I just don’t want
her the
same. I will be content, however, to live the rest of my life with her.”

“And you won’t have regrets? You know you could have her back don’t you?”

“No angel, no regrets and I couldn’t have her back. Your
mom
was made for that life, even if she doesn’t believe it sometimes.”

“Can I join this conversation?”

We both look up to see my mother standing at the door. Mack
smiles,
and stands. They hug one another, and I stare intently at how beautiful both of them are. Together and apart, they are dazzling. I smile, even though I would love to see my parents together, I know they are better apart. Mack turns, leans down and kisses my head.

“You know you are my number one girl, till the end.”

I smile up at him. “I love you.”

He smiles, beaming and real.
“You too kiddo.”

Mom
sits down with a smile and watches Mack leave. She takes my hand, and we stare out at the ocean.

“You know, it melts me every time I see him with you. The love, it pours off him. You don’t see it because you aren’t looking, but he stares at you, smiles at you, he is hurt when you are, happy when you are, he loves you Jade.”

“I know.”

“He was the best father I could have ever picked for you, even if others didn’t believe it. Jax is the best father you could have picked for Lilly, even if sometimes people don’t believe that.”

I look at her and tears well in my eyes. “Thank you.”

“I am sorry, for putting him down. He loves you;
God
knows he is rough and tough, but he loves you. I have never seen a man look at a woman, the way he looks at you. He is perfect for you Jade, and you him. I hope you forgive me for speaking the way I did.”

“Of course.
I love you; I wish you knew how much.”

She smiles and hugs me. “I do know how much. I have to go back today Jade, it is time to face it.”

“I wish you didn’t have to, and I hope it works out.”

“Don’t ever forget how much I love you Jade.”

“I never will, and I hope you know the same. I miss you terribly when you are away.”

“I will visit again soon.”

I hug her close. “I hope so.”

She leaves three hours later, and I hug her furiously when she gets into the taxi. None of us thought twice about sending someone with her, we watched her get into the taxi, no one was around, and she was only going to a busy airport. How wrong we were. As I wait for her call to say she arrived safe, I sit on the porch drinking tea. Jax is inside with Rusty, going over the plan and Mack has gone out with Sam. A delivery van pulls up at the front of the house, and a young man walks up the steps.

“Package.”

“Oh the owner is out.”

“That is ok, it doesn’t need signing.”

“Ok, thanks.”

I take the small box and see it has my name on it. Oh, maybe Jax had our mail re-directed. It wouldn’t surprise me. I open the box and unravel the paper around it. Then, I scream. I scream so loudly Jax comes barreling out of the house with his gun drawn. His eyes frantically search the yard, and then fall on me. I can’t move my eyes, I can’t breathe. In the box is a severed hand, but that is not what made me scream, it is the beautiful diamond ring on the hand that made me scream.
The ring that is my mothers.

“What is it?” Jax asks, stepping beside me.

I can’t move
,
I can’t even open my mouth to answer him. It is a trick. They stole her ring. I know better though because I know my mother’s hands. I lean over, and I throw up, heaving until my stomach is empty. I crumble to the floor and hear faint talking around me. I can’t make out the words; I can’t do anything but dry retch. I feel a cool cloth on my head; my eyes are fuzzy, but I can hear Jax’s voice.