“Holy crap, you can cook,” I mumble, taking another bite, then I swing one leg up to cross over the other without thinking. His fork that was halfway to his mouth pauses and his eyes drop to my right thigh. I quickly uncross my legs and pull my robe back down to cover myself up.
“Please tell me you have something on under that thing,” he rumbles, and the deepness of his words vibrates between my legs.
“I—”
“Fuck,” he clips, making me jump slightly. He stands from the table and walks to the fridge. “Go put something on before I set your little ass up on the table and eat you for breakfast,” he growls, clenching his fists at his sides.
HOLY COW My pulse kicks into overdrive, and I feel my core clench at his words and the way he’s holding himself. “I…”
I start to…I don’t know, apologize, when his eyes flash again and he snarls, “Now,” making me jump out of my seat and run to my room.
“Holy shit,” I whisper. I go to my dresser and grab a bra and panties, slipping them both on quickly. Then I dig through my closet until I find a pair of sweats, and pull them on with a t-shirt before slowly making my way out of the room and back into the kitchen.
“Is this better?” I ask, not even sitting down until I know I’m safe.
His eyes sweep over me and he nods, so I sit back down, pick my coffee back up, and shakily take a sip.
“Until I get in there, and I mean really get in there, you need to wear clothes when I’m around.”
“This is my house,” I mutter, ignoring the part about him getting into me, because that image caused my whole body to heat up, and I could feel myself turning red from the thought alone.
“Never said it wasn’t, baby,” he murmurs, taking a seat next to me.
I try to think of something to say, but my mind is so focused on just trying to breath that nothing comes to mind.
“You wanna tell me why you were dressed like Catwoman last night at Mamma’s Country?”
“Nope,” I reply immediately definitely not wanting to fill the silence with that conversation.
“Why were you there, July?” he questions more firmly.
“So you don’t have to tell me why you showed up at my house last night, but you expect me to tell you what happened?” I lower my eyes to my plate, saying, “Not likely,” under my breath.
“Is it about the dogs?” he asks gently as his fingers pull up on the underside of my jaw, causing my gaze to meet his. “Talk to me.” The gentleness of his voice and softness in his eyes causes the words to come tumbling out.
“The morning Jax was here, there was another dog left outside the clinic.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, baby,” he says as his fingers come up to run down the side of my face and I try to ignore the way his touch feels.
“I want to find out who’s doing this.” I lower my gaze when I feel tears sting my nose from thinking about the helpless animals that have lost their lives just so some asshole could have a few minutes of entertainment. “I will find out who’s doing this.”
“Do you believe the person who’s connected to the dogs was at the bar last night?” he asks gently.
I nod, still looking down at my plate. “Kayan and I followed the guy after he dropped off another dog.”
He lets out a loud puff of air and I can feel the energy change. “Don’t go there again.” My head comes up and our eyes connect. “I know you have no reason to trust me yet.” His eyes drop to my mouth and his thumb touches the edge of my bottom lip before they meet mine again. “But I need you to promise me you won’t go back there.”
“Why?” I ask softly.
“Babe.” He shakes his head then frowns when pounding starts on my front door. “Who’s that?”
“I don’t know.” I get up and head toward the door when Wes pulls me behind him and opens it.
“Do you want to live, Silver?” Jax asks, shoving his way into my house.
“Fuck you, Mayson,” Wes replies, and Jax looks me over then shakes his head, looking at Wes again.
“You told me you were serious about my cousin, and then you let her walk right into the fucking snake pit where someone could see her?” Jax asks, and my eyes go between him and Wes and I feel my brows pull together.
“Don’t go there,” Wes growls.
“You,” Jax turns on me and shakes his head, “what the fuck were you thinking?”
“What?” I ask, confused.
“Why were you at Mamma’s Country last night?”
“Uh…”
“I don’t have time to babysit you,” Jax growls.
“Hold on one damn minute.” I put my hands on my hips and get in his face. “I have never, ever asked you to babysit me, so you need to get off that high horse you rode in here on and back off.”
“You’re family.”
“And?” I ask, making my eyes big.
“Does Uncle Asher know you’re seeing Silver?” he asks, and my body freezes and my heart speeds up.
“I’m not seeing him.” I bite the inside of my cheek. I wasn’t technically lying, was I? I peek over at Wes, who’s frowning, then swing my head to look at Jax.
He growls, “Two days he’s been here in the morning.”
“So?”
“So, I haven’t told my dad or anyone.”
“I haven’t told anyone about all the women you have in and out of your house,” I tell him.
“I’m a dude. No one would care.”
“Your mom would.” I smirk. Aunt Lilly would kick his ass if she knew the way he went through women.
“Do you think my mom’s dumb?”
Okay, he’s right. Aunt Lilly knew he had never been in a committed relationship, but she still didn’t like it. “Whatever. We’re getting away from the point,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Yeah, the point being that he,” he points at Wes, “should have made sure your ass was nowhere near Momma’s Country last night, or any night for that matter.”
“I would like to remind you that I’m a grown woman.”
“You’re also a woman who has no idea the kind of fucked up people there are in this world.”
“I don’t?” I ask, narrowing my eyes on him.
“You don’t,” he confirms, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Every week, I have animals that have been abused or left for dead come into the hospital. Helpless animals that cannot defend themselves. So, yes, I do know the kind of horrible people who live in this world. I do not have rose-colored glasses on, Jax.” I choke on the last words as tears fill my eyes.