“Um….” I ran a hand through my hair. “You aren’t supposed to know about us. Go into the bathroom!”
“No! Mark will be here any minute. What then? The professor knows you have a roommate and he’s here anyway. If he didn’t want me to know, he shouldn’t have just shown up.” Her logic was pretty hard to argue with, however I didn’t really want another confrontation with my handsome professor.
I inhaled a steadying breath as another knock followed, making me jump. “Addison, it’s Jaxon. Open the door.”
Suddenly, the walls closed in, and my cozy little apartment felt like a matchbox. After a second or two of hesitation, I put a hand on the doorknob and turned it, pulling it open. There was nothing to be done about how I looked. Michelle backed further into the room as the door swung wide. Jax was sexy as hell in fitted jeans and a midnight button-down with a stylish black leather jacket over it, he leaned one hand on the doorframe. His dark hair was combed back and still damp from his shower. He was perfection from his stance, his casual smile that made the dimple in his left cheek appear, down to his Tom Ford Chelsea boots.
I squared my shoulders. “What are you doing here?” I asked, pretending to be composed.
“I think that’s obvious,” he dismissed with a smirk. “May I come in?”
I didn’t respond but simply moved aside so he could pass.
“Michelle,” he greeted her nonchalantly.
“Hello, Dr. Michaels,” she returned hesitantly. Her eyes met mine and then glanced back to the striking man who’s imposing presence dominated the room. “Um…” she grabbed her coat off of her bed and slid it on. “I think I’m just going to wait for Mark downstairs. See ya later, Addy.”
“Bye,” I raised a hand in an awkward wave.
After she’d gone, I met his gaze. “If you didn’t want her to find out about us, I’d say that’s blown.”
“Pfft,” he huffed. “As if she didn’t already know. She ran out of here like a frightened bird. I’m many things, Addison, but I’m not stupid. Why didn’t you just tell me you told her?”
My eyes widened, and my temper flared again. “Because I didn’t tell her! She figured it out the morning after our first night together. She’s not mentally challenged.”
“Clearly.” He closed the space between us and reached for both of my hands. “You still should have told me. It seems I’m batting a thousand.” His deep blue eyes were mesmerizing, and I felt myself giving in the minute he touched me. His thumbs began stroking over both of my hands as he held them in his. “I’m sorry. I overreacted this morning. It’s not your fault that Luke would want to spend time with you or get your help. You’re gorgeous and brilliant. What pisses me off is that he wanted to keep it from me by tricking you into asking to be my T.A.”
“He’s intimidated by you.”
Jax huffed, perplexed. “That’s stupid.”
“Is it?” He was so smooth, sophisticated, and just… everything. Anyone would be. I was still torn between my need to be completely honest with Jax and honoring Luke’s request that I keep the fact he was working on a manuscript secret. It wasn’t my story to tell, but it put me in an awkward position.
Jax stood looking at me until his eyes dropped to my mouth, stepping even closer. He smelled amazing, as he always did and my body reacted to his nearness, the solid wall of muscled chest in front of me, his sensuous mouth, and the warmth of his breath rushing over me. Jax dropped one of my hands and slid his fingers over my cheek to reach behind my head to tangle in the curtain of my dark hair.
“Didn’t you hear me say I’m sorry, Addison?” His voice was low with the sensual tenor it always carried.
“I did. Thank you.” I pulled free and surprised him when I stepped away.
“So, then?” His expression was laced with confusion. “Are we good?”
I could feel his eyes watch my every move, but he didn’t immediately deny it. “I didn’t want you to see this place,” I admitted, rinsing out the cereal bowl and spoon Michelle had left in the sink. I grabbed a dish towel and started to dry them.
“You don’t have to be ashamed of your apartment. Columbia University is expensive. I’m proud of you.”
“I’m not ashamed. It’s just so different than what you’re used to.” I put the dish and silverware away in our makeshift cupboard. “I guess it is humbling.” He was successful on his own but came from money so I couldn’t imagine him ever living in a place like this.
“My father made us work our way through college. I lived in a frat house.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure why we’d never spoken of it before.
His hands settled onto my shoulders and slide down my arms, then back up again in a gentle, sensual caress. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not here to see your apartment. I’m here to see you and to take you out for the day. I had plans, and I didn’t want to let my little outburst to ruin the day. Don’t be mad at me.”
“You don’t trust me, Jax.” I was fidgeting, nervously trying to tidy the room.
“It isn’t that I don’t trust you, babe.” I did my best not to fall prey to his touch so I could say what I needed to say.
Tears flooded my eyes. I desperately wanted to spend more time with him. I was so happy when we were together; it still felt like a dream, but he hadn’t said he trusted me. “Why don’t you trust me?” I asked, sadly. “I’ve never done anything to make you doubt me.”
“I know.” He pulled me back against his body as his head bent to nuzzle at my neck. “I’m feeling things… I’m not used to feeling.” Jax pulled the hair back to give him full access to the sensitive place he knew drove me crazy.
Butterflies started in my stomach at his admission and the low ache that always took purchase deep inside me whenever he touched me began to burn. His fingers ghosted over the skin of my neck, followed closely behind by his hot, open mouth. It would be easy to give in and just move past our little spat, easy to melt into his arms and let my heart and body drown in him.
“What are you feeling?” I asked in rapt anticipation of his answer, but needing to hear it I leaned back, letting him take most of my weight, arching my neck to give his hungry mouth more access. I could feel his erection pressing into my bottom, and my back arched automatically pressing into it.
Jax groaned, his hands starting to roam the front of my body; cupping my breast with one, his other moving below my waist to begin kneading my sex over my jeans. “I want you. In my life and my bed.”
“God,” I breathed. “Jax, we should talk about this.”
“Why? Talking is overrated.” He continued to work his magic. I longed to turn in his arms and find his mouth with mine.
I should just shut up and let him make love to me. It was what my body and heart wanted so why couldn’t I just go with it?
“I have to tell you something,” I persisted. If this was getting serious, it was important to be honest.
It was Jax who turned me in his arms so he could meet my eyes, sobering. “What is it?”
“Yes, Luke wants me to be your other T.A. to alleviate some of the workload, but there’s more to it.”