Heat & Distance

Our conflict is like a loaded gun; I am the idiot standing too near, trying to prevent it from firing.

Jaxon's presence stays long even after I turned aside. I don't give a damn about what he's hiding even after I spent the whole afternoon persuading myself.

Still, I do.

The worst of all is also I believe he is aware of it.

Though my mind is elsewhere, Ava and I are scheduled to be at the lake tonight for a bonfire. My mind keeps running over the talk I overheard, the way Jaxon gazed at me later.

Ava pulls me back to reality by snapping fingers in front of Lena, earth to Lena. "What is wrong with you today?"

I flash. "Nothing." Simply worn out.

She puffs and shoves a Coke can into my hand. "Well, wake up; we have the best summer night right ahead."

The evening the greatest of the summer.

Should only she be aware of the undercurrent of development.

The lake is full. Cars round the dirt road heading down to the sea, laughter and music blending with the bonfire's crackling.

Ava vanishes into the throng, and I follow attempting to ignore the discomfort wriggles in my gut.

I see him then.

Jaxon.

Arm crossed, he is leaning against his truck and eyeing me. Still waiting.

Our eyes meet, and then the summer heat is not the cause of my skin feeling too warm.

Some of me expects him to turn away first.

She does not.

He doesn't.

Ignoring the way my heart hammers against my ribs, I turn my eyes from him and drive myself toward the bonfire.

The evening progresses in slow motion. Though it's difficult when I can see his eyes on me, I try to concentrate on everything except him.

I take a drink and flip back a sip. I need anything to help me to ground myself.

One voice behind me adds, "Didn't think you were coming."

I become tense.

As Jaxon is not involved here.

Ethan it is.

Tall, interesting, and exactly the kind of diversion I need right now.

I turn with a little smile. Here I am, really.

Ethan lets out a smile. "Good," I started to believe I would be the only reasonably attractive person attending this party.

I yawn and roll my eyes. That so?

Yes. He slants in slightly and lowers his voice. " Unless, of course, you disagree."

He has clear significance. He's flirting. Clearly fascinated.

And I ought to lean toward it. I should chuckle, gently correct him, let myself be carried into something basic and secure.

I never have the opportunity though.

Because a familiar voice cuts over the air before I could respond.

"That, Ethan, is your best move?"

Though the underlying tone is keen, the phrases are lazy.

Ethan tightens his jaw next to me. "Didn't find your name on her, Jaxon.".

Oh, Hell.

I whirl about with heart thumping.

Jaxon is standing there, arms still crossed, but his smile is hardly amused.

"Don't need my name on her," he says effortlessly. But you ought to know when to stop.

Heat licks my spine instead of from the bonfire.

Because Jaxon's tone and words seem deadly.

possessive;

Like a warning, exactly.

I ought to call it off. I should quit before this becomes disorganized.

Ethan is now, though, smiling back and forth between us as if he is piecing things together.

Something I wish he never saw.

Laughing, Ethan responds, "Oh, I get it now." "This explains your all-territorial behavior."

Jaxon does not blink. "You're not very intriguing, Ethan."

Ethan calls for hands. "Hey, man. Simply said, if you are not claiming her—"

I see it happen the instant the words come out of his mouth.

Jaxon motions.

Speed.

Two seconds later, he is standing leisurely. He then faces Ethan, fingers wrapped around the neck of his shirt.

The planet I live on freezes.

Under their breath, I hear someone swear as a murmur ripple across the assembly.

Jaxon says, voice low, lethal, "Say that again."

Their combined intensity is like a live wire, flickering and one mistake away from catastrophe.

"Jaxon, stop," I say, pavers between them.

His grasp relaxes although his jaw is stiff as steel.

Ethan yanks away and exhales hard. "Jesus. Let yourself relax, guy.

Jaxon still fixes his eyes on Ethan and does not move.

I reach out to his arm. "Juxon." Let it slide.

And following a tense time he does.

But his gaze darts to me as he turns.

And something unspoken moves between us.

This is not done in vain.

Not very likely.

The party lasts, but just now I feel uncomfortable.

The words Jaxon spoke keep coming back to me.

His reaction. His Fury.

His attitude toward me like I was something he already possessed.

The sky is dark and limitless, the moon shining over the lake, by the time I separate from the throng.

I should not be outside here by myself.

but I am.

I also know, however, I won't be for very long.

Steps crunch under the earth behind me.

I have no one to turn to find out who it is.

Jaxon advises "you should be inside." Now his voice is quiet, yet underlying it is something indisputable.

I keep my back toward him. "So should you."

He gets closer, and I believe I sense the weight between us drawing me into something I am powerless over.

"Ethan's an idiot," he says quietly.

I turn then to meet his look. You are also reckless.

He flashes something in his eyes. "Is that what you believe?"

"What else am I meant to think, Jaxon?" I draw my arms across one other. You almost fought him over nothing.

His teeth close. "That was hardly nothing."

Heart hammering, I fix my gaze on him. Then what was it?

He does not reply immediately.

And his voice gets lower as he does. Rougher.

"You already know.".

Our quiet between each other gets thinner.

And the distance is suddenly too little.

My respiration is shallow. My hands seem quivering.

also, Jaxon?

Exactly there.

Too close.

Very risky.

Too seductive.

I bite hard, pulse thundering in my ears.

I say, "This is a bad idea," softly.

The eyes of Jaxon dart to my lips.

He steps back then as well.

I stop breathing and wonder whether I feel letdown or relieved.

But based on his demeanor toward me?

The heat? The warning is here.

There is yet to be done.

This is simply the beginning.

Ignoring Jaxon's protectiveness is getting more difficult.

Lena is battling what she already knew is unavoidable.

Although neither of them is willing to cross the boundary, their conflict is almost breaking point.