The First Slip

I reminded myself I would not let this to happen.

I swore; the second I turned away from home, realizing Jaxon Walker would be only a memory—a warning story of poor choices and heedless desires.

But right now here I am.

And there he is.

Not one thing about this feels like a recollection.

It might be harmful. real.

Like something already going off control.

Late enough for me to still be at Ava's place.

The campfire finished hours ago, and Ava went out in her room, leaving me by myself in the poorly lit kitchen unable to inhale past the weight in my chest.

Tonight was all wrong in every sense.

Me almost set Jaxon on a fight. He glanced at me as though I were his. Even worse of all?

I was not hateful about it.

I ought to walk off. I should get my keys and head off.

Rather, I freeze and stare out the window at the black backyard, at the faint glow of a cigarette ember close by the garage.

Before I ever heard his voice, I knew who it was.

"You going keep hiding in there, city girl??"

We call him lazy and taunting. It does have an edge, though.

Like he is precisely acting for me.

I inhale sharply and hold the counter.

Not hiding was what I was doing.

Jaxon lets smoke out into the evening. "Right"

I'm hesitant. I ought not to go outside. I should pass for not hearing him.

But already my feet are moving.

The evening air smells gasoline, cigarette smoke, something else, and is thick and humid.

Something clearly him.

With arms crossed, Jaxon leans against the hood of his truck and watches me as he has been anticipating.

As he knew I had arrived.

I halt a few feet apart, arms across my chest. "You are going to explain what happened tonight?"

His lips twitch, but he shows no delight. "You are looking for an apology?"

I straighten my chin. "I have no need for one." I do, however, require a response.

Jaxon runs a hand through his already tangled hair and exhales. "You really wanted to have this conversation right now?"

Definitely yes.

He huffs out a low, coarse chuckle and shakes his head. Of course you do.

He briefly just looks at me.

Then he deliberately pushes off the truck, closing the distance between us. Slowly.

I should step back. I ought to distance things out.

But I do not.

This isn't only about tonight since the second he's close enough for me to see the fire in his eyes and his scent will assault my senses.

Years of building have been under progress here.

I chew hard, my pulse thumping. " Why did you do it?"

Jaxon turns his head. "Do what?"

I glare. You really know what.

He doesn't reply immediately. Rather, his gaze wanders across my face and stays on my lips for an overly long second.

Then he says, gently—almost as if he is confessing— "Because watching him touch you made me want to break something."

My tummy falls.

Heat runs through me like an uncontrollably wildfire.

I let out a hard exhale. "Jaxon—"—

He steps further closer, though, cutting me off until there is no room between us.

Tell me to stop, he says quietly.

I opened my mouth. I should say it as well.

I ought to point out to him this is a mistake.

I do not, however.

For I cannot.

The moment stretches, fragile and perilous.

Then—a hardly-there touch that causes my breath to stop—Jaxon's fingertips brush against my waist.

He waits. Giving me one more opportunity to retreat.

But I don't.

And every sensible idea vanishes when his lips eventually collide with mine.

Like we are trying to make up for lost time, the kiss is forceful and frantic; every second we spent acting as though this was not inevitable.

My hands locate his shirt and hold the cloth as though it were the only thing keeping me anchored.

Jaxon groans next to my lips, his body flushes against mine as he grips me back against the truck.

I should mention that we are outside and that anyone could see us.

I don't, though.

This is why?

We cannot undo this; it is fire and carelessness.

I also refuse to undo it.

Jaxon dark and unreadable, draws away just enough to glance at me.

He says, "We're so screwed, aren't we?"

My pulse falters.

I bite hard. " Totally."

His lips curving into a smile, he is kissing me once more before I can say anything else.

The footfall is absent.

We are not alone, and we never know.

Not until— "What the hell?"

My gut collapses.

Jaxon locks down.

We both turn exactly in time to find Ava staring at us.

Her face is incomprehensible, yet the betrayal she sees?

You really cannot miss.

crap.

That kiss occurred. One cannot go back on this.

Ava looked at everything. And now their secret is revealed before it ever began.

Lena and Jaxon are in great peril. And without someone getting wounded, there is no way out either.