.

Ten of us stick around long enough to watch a movie. We pile around the TV in Courtney's basement. I grab a spot on the couch and pull the wool blanket from the back it to cover my legs.

Courtney sits on one side of me and Tyler lands on my other side.

"Tyler," I roll my eyes. "No."

"Suck it up. It's not like we haven't been this close before," he grins at me.

I slide closer to Courtney and she wraps her arms around me playfully.

"Sorry, Tyler. It appears your three minutes with Gabby have changed her ways. She prefers the V." She kisses the side of my face as we both burst into a fit of giggles.

He mutters and lays his head in his hand on the armrest of the couch.

Candy Man begins to play and Courtney flips off the lamp beside her. We watch the movie for about twenty minutes before Courtney leans into me to whisper.

"So, what do you think of Jax now?"

I turn and meet her eyes. She knows exactly what I think. This girl knows her brother well. I mean, she called it—Jax has ways of making you want him and currently I do. My mind—that should be focused on my friend's birthday—has not stopped swirling around a kiss that I can still feel.

I want your brother, I think but don't say aloud. Instead I shrug, not wanting to make her upset about this. She likes my brother, I can like hers.

"Please be careful, Gabby," she pleads. "Jax will not date you. He's going to use you until he gets bored. That's his thing."

"He told me," I whisper, biting at my lip. Hearing her repeat what she told me the first time I met her and verify what Jax himself has pretty much told me is a harsh pill to swallow. Could I do that? Be that close with him and then have him drop me like it meant nothing? That kiss didn't feel like nothing. That kiss felt powerful enough to make my knees wobble. Part of me wonders if it was just because of what Tyler was doing upstairs. Jax clearly was not impressed with Tyler announcing my sex life to a room of people.

Was it just for the show? To get Tyler to stop?

"You have every right to like him. It's not like I would ever think less of you for it. It's not him or me that I'm worried about, it's you. You've been warned. If you want to like him, fine."

She's right though. He wants to use me, he's clearly more experienced than me, and my dad already doesn't like him. Nothing could ever come from this.

I return to watching the movie, ending our conversation with a nod. I'll ignore him. He's upstairs anyways, the night is almost over, and tomorrow I'm back to being banned from this house. It's easier to stay away from Jax than it is Tyler.

I look back to the moron beside me and huff, wishing Jax was the worst of my worries.

Every time Tyler moves, I feel myself tense up, afraid he's going to attempt to make an advance towards me. I have to remind myself that before the night at the lake, I never thought this way, so why would tonight change anything? He won't grope me in front of all these people. Yet, it's honestly making my stomach hurt to have him beside me. I'm tempted to move myself to the floor.

When Courtney stands to get a drink and use the bathroom, Tyler shifts beside me, causing me to panic. How long will it take Courtney to get a drink, because that's how long I have to stop myself from crying and making myself look like a complete spaz in front of our friends. Sweat coats the back of my neck as I feel him slide over what is likely less than an inch, but enough to cause his arm to brush against mine. Thankfully, I hear the door from upstairs open and shut. It's not soon enough that my friend returns though, because Tyler's arm moves to the back of the sofa above me.

"Tyler, please stop," I mutter, hearing a shake to my voice. "Stay on your side."

"This spot taken, Books?" Jax accepts Courtney's spot before I can answer. Obviously it was not my friend I heard at the basement door.

Immediate relief comes when Jax snakes his tattooed arm around my shoulder and gently pulls me closer to him. The warmth of his firm torso is comforting in a way I was not expecting. I mouth a thank you to him, causing him to nod, and drop my head against his chest.

"For fuck's sake," Tyler slumps himself into the couch and slowly adds distance back between us. Now I can finally breathe.

"Sorry, needed to borrow her again. Poor timing on your part."

I can't help but to snicker and look back to the tattooed man who is holding me. He grins knowing, for the second time tonight, he was able to get to Tyler. Even though I'm fairly certain that Jax typically doesn't cuddle during his games, he gives me another tug and drops his face to the crook of my neck.

"You smell so fucking good," he whispers to the spot beneath my ear.

The fluttering returns to my stomach with his compliment. He smells good too. I am fully engulfed in the scent of his woodsy cologne and I'm secretly hoping that if he sits here long enough, that it will cling to my clothes the rest of the night.

How does he do that? How do I make up my mind to keep away from him one minute and the next minute I want his scent all over me. If I'm really honest, it's his hands I want all over me.

The tip of his nose brushes against my jaw, causing a tingly sensation to follow in its wake. My eyes press shut, dangerously aware of how close his lips are to my skin.

"Jax."

"Give me your phone," he whispers.

"Get out of my seat, asshat!" Courtney slaps her brother upside the head, ending the trance I was drowning in.

"I will once Books gives me her phone," he flashes Courtney the whites of his teeth.

"What if I say no?" I reply flirtatiously.

Say no, Gabby.

I know that I should say no.

I also know that I won't say no.

Jax chuckles and gives an overly exaggerated shrug of his shoulders, keeping me in his hold. "Then I suppose the birthday girl loses her seat."

Courtney glares at me, crossing her arms across her boobs. As much as I would love for him to stay here, I need him away from me. I need Courtney in this spot so that I'm not stupid around him. But damn, I want to be so stupid around him.

I pull my phone out of the pocket of my jacket and hand it to Jax. His large hand grips the small rose-gold phone, his smile broadening along with my own while he texts himself from it. He's giving me his number while he steals mine.

Once his task is complete, his free hand tugs me close again, bringing his face back to the spot beside my neck. I like him in this spot way more than I should.

"I suggest you don't save my name as Jax. Daddy Dan won't like that."

He pecks a small kiss just below my ear, causing my stomach to joyfully flip. Honestly, even if anyone had been looking right at us, they wouldn't have even known he had done it. He appears to just be whispering, but he and I know it was more by the way both of us tensed while he did it.

I turn back to him and meet his green eyes, wanting Courtney to take the floor and let him stay here. "Don't save me as Gabby then."

With one last nod, Jax releases me from his hold, offering Courtney back her spot on the couch. Both of us watch Jax disappear back up the stairs before she turns back to me.

"You are so screwed, Gabby."

"I didn't do anything but give him my phone," I reply with a giggle, turning back to the television. I have no clue what this movie is even about. "I'm staying away from him. Dad's orders."

"Right." She quakes with with a laugh, clearly calling me out on my bullshit.

Vibration against my palm has me peering down to the screen of my iPhone. One new text message flashes across the surface, already causing a warmth in my belly because I know who it's going to be from.

New Message: Unknown Sender 10:52PM: You are in my phone as Chuck S. Books.

Wickedly, I smile at my the phone in my hands. We text now and I like this development. Clearly, Jax has discovered that acting creepy is not a way to get me to open up, but being playful and witty is.

I lean close to Courtney so that I am able to whisper and not disturb the people on the floor for the millionth time since this movie started. "What's Jax's middle name?"

Courtney bursts into giggles without even turning back to me. "Alfonse."

I burst out laughing as everyone in the room looks back to me, clearly not as amused as I am over this recent development. "Sorry," I mutter and dive back into my phone's texts to save him as a new contact and reply.

RE: Message: Unknown Sender 10:55PM: Alfonse? Seriously? You're now in my phone as Alfie Tats 😉

I can't wipe the smile from my face as I impatiently wait for him to reply.

New Message: Alfie Tats 10:57PM: If you could please smack the girl beside you, I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Nah, I would never. Alfie might just be my new favorite word.

***

I'm exhausted as everyone sits around drinking and playing board games. I finish my beer and set the can besides me.

That's five, Gabby. No more. Stay sober around Tyler.

I decide that it's time to begin drinking water, I want to remain sober. I'm honestly not drunk, but I feel the buzz telling me one more may push me to that point. There is no way I'm getting drunk and falling asleep if he stays the entire night. I'll walk back to my house drunk before that happens.

I pick up what empty cups I can find laying around and walk them back upstairs, leaving my friends giggling in the basement. When I open the door, I notice the kitchen is now completely picked up and free of party debris, the music has stopped and now the TV is on.

Jax is lying across the couch, one arm behind his head and one knee up with his foot on the edge of the cushions. He scans through various channels as I remain unnoticed. Not wanting to add to his newly cleaned kitchen, I locate their trash can and toss the cups away. Then I proceed to the fridge to find myself a bottle of water or something else that will keep me hydrated and sober. I find a bottle of water on the door and select that.

"No more beer?" his deep voice trails from the living room.

"I don't want to be drunk around Tyler," I admit, feeling my lips curl downwards as I uncap my water. "I get tired when I drink, causing me to do stupid shit, and I don't exactly trust his intentions. I'll stay sober."

"So, all your little friends are down there intoxicated, having a blast, and you're going to be the only one sober?" His green eyes finally lock to mine and I watch as his Adam's apple bobs in his neck while he takes a deep swallow. "That doesn't sound like very much fun."

"Better then waking up and realizing you lost your virginity to the guy you like's little brother in the back of his '94 teal Ford Escort."

"It was the car that was disappointing, right?" he chuckles, sitting himself up straight and turning off the TV.

"Well, yeah. I mean if I had to choose, I would have done it the back of a '67 Chevy pickup."

I smile against the lip of my water when his head cocks to the side with a grin. We are being playful again and this is becoming a little too fun for me. I am loving the way he listens to what I say and is unable to stop himself from smiling. He's more normal than he lets on and he's letting me in more than he realizes.

"A girl that knows cars."

"A little," I agree, telling myself that I'm unsure of why I'm still up here, but knowing it's because of the pull that occurs when I'm anywhere near Jackson Parker.

I should go back downstairs, but Jax is right. They're all drunk and I'm the only sober one. Shit that they are currently finding funny, just makes me annoyed.

Jax leaves his spot on the couch and slowly walks into the kitchen. The change in the air is sudden and drastic. We both become very aware that there is a difference from when we are hanging out with other people around versus when we are alone. We felt this the night we met, but now this is different. Now we have tasted each other and since that kiss tonight, I have wanted to be alone with him.

Our eyes stay locked as he moves towards me, stopping when I become eye level with his chest. My lungs pain with the erratic breathing he causes from them. His chest appears to be doing the same, expanding his gray tee just enough that I can see the outline of his pectorals beneath it. Is he aware of the effect he has on me? I want to look up and at the same time, I'm terrified to do so. I am terrified to like him this much and so fast. Especially when I know that he wants to use me—that is the part that my brain just doesn't seem to want to grasp.

Jax grips the top of my water bottle, slowly pulling it from my hand. My heart pounds every time the tips of my fingers hit a ripple in the bottle's shape, because I know I'm that much closer to losing any control I had left around him. When the bottle is free from my hold, I swear the butterflies in my stomach could lift me.

With one hand, he sets the bottle on the cleaned countertop. With the other, he places his hand upon my hip.

I know he's watching me, waiting for me to react as he hovers. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do. Do I bolt back downstairs and heed everyone's warnings? Do I pull him down to me and kiss him—which is what I want more than anything right now? I want those lips back on mine and to verify that his kiss was more than just making Tyler jealous. Or I can just stand here, staring his tee.

"How long before they notice you're gone?" he whispers his question, but it comes out more like a plead. He doesn't want them to notice and neither do I.

His fingertip traces my jawline and down my neck. My face automatically follows its movement, placing my jaw into the palm of his hand, and causing my eyes to press shut with that tingly tickling sensation that once again has my knees wobbling. Everywhere he touches feels warm and yearns to be touched again.

I place my palms on his solid abs, the first time that it's been me reaching out to feel him. I feel him suck in a breath and hold it, giving me the confidence I need to finally look up to his stare.

Our eyes lock and that's it. There won't be any way to pull us apart now. My hands fist his shirt again and warm, soft, lips crash to mine. Even though my middle is pressed against his, he still wraps his arms around me and attempts to pull me closer. We are a mess of sloppy, hot kisses and moans as he begins walking me backwards towards the darkened hallway.

I'm suddenly picked up from the floor by my thighs, causing me to shriek and then giggle. I wrap myself around him tightly, very aware that his hardness is not limited to his his abs. This skirt is leaving absolutely nothing to my imagination and there is one hell of a bulge pressed firmly against my panties right now.

"Jax..."

"... is what you're about to be moaning."

Whoa.

I dip my face back to his and begin nibbling on his lower lip. Just like before, he opens my mouth with his and begins lapping our tongues while fumbling his hand searching for the light switch to their bathroom. Once the light is on, the door is kicked shut, locked and I'm positioned on the counter with him standing between my legs and stealing some very hungry kisses.

My legs begin to shake with nerves when he placed his hands on my outer thighs and slowly rubs them. My lack of experience is clear. I may not be a virgin, but my night with Tyler is the only practice I've had and I only remember bits and pieces.

This is different. This is me being in a position to do some very naughty things with a guy who has me so turned on that I can't see straight. My head is dizzy with all the possibilities of what could happen right now, even though Jax himself already told me exactly what would be happening the night we played pool.

My breathing is already labored as the man between my thighs grips my hips firmly and peers into my eyes.

"Books," he brushes his lips against mine again, "do you want me to make you come tonight?"

He knows that's exactly what I want and I know he wants to hear me say it. He wants to know that I'm giving in after repeatedly telling him that this wouldn't happen.

"Gabby?"

"Yes," I plead, parting my knees further and pulling him closer.

"Yes what?"

His fingers are already toying with the hem of the shirt, driving me crazy for him. My clit is throbbing for attention—his attention.

"Make me come, Jax," I bite down on my lip and take the deepest of breaths.

His lustful eye contact remains with me as his hand slips beneath my skirt. I quiver at the feel of his fingers, rubbing the fabric of my lace underwear that is currently soaked for him.

"Fuck, Books," his fingers dance across the area where I want him. "So fucking ready for me, aren't you?"

I bob my head yes, mouth dropping open as he slips his thumb beneath the fabric dividing his skin from mine and finally feels just how wet I am.

"One finger," he whispers with his lips pressed to the lobe of my ear. He slowly circles me with a tease, causing my clit to harden and peak beneath the tip of his thumb. "One finger is all it's going to take for you to give yourself to me tonight."

My moans fill the small room. He starts with those agonizing circles and then changes to a slow brushing motion against the small bundle of nerves. Arousal pools around his finger, clearly turning him on even more. His eyes are on fire as he focused on his precise movements. With just a thumb and the slightest of movements, he has me grinding into his hand, pleading for a release that he has promised me.

"Jax," I cry out, thinking that I'm on the bridge of a major climax, but he slows down his circles to prevent it.

"Fuck not yet," he sucks in his breath again, eying me like he wants to do a million dirty things to me. Likely not one that I haven't thought of myself tonight.

When my moaning becomes too loud, loud enough that it might warrant some unwelcome party goers to check up on us, he takes my mouth with his again. He strokes his tongue with mine, and takes my lip between his teeth with a slight tug.

Heat radiates from my sex and there's that feeling in my belly that tells me this time I really am close to a release. My head drops back, my mouth falls open, my hips begin to buck from the countertop...

"Open your eyes, Books." Jax demands, halting his movements completely. "I want to see that O-face with those big, blue eyes open."

I force myself to open my eyes, once again seeing how crazy green his can become. Tiny circles begin again, but now with an increase in pressure.

"Jax," I grip the counter firmly, trying to focus on keeping my eyes open and my brewing orgasm. "Oh shit I'm close..."

"How does it feel?"

"So good," I bite my lip, keeping his eyes with mine like he instructed.

That smirk of his tugs at his lips and his circles become faster, needier. My orgasm is literally at the tip of his finger. One harsh flick would send me over the edge.

"Oh, my god..."

"Books, what did I tell you about those eyes?"