The Jaxon Effect Read online

  He wasn’t sure if it was his reaction, or her own, that caused her to retreat. She was no easier to read now than she was before.

  “Have a seat. Dig in,” she said, directing his attention back to the table.

  “Thanks,” he replied wiping the remainder of the coffee from his bare chest. He should have worn his shirt.

  He pulled out a seat from the small table. Now that he was sitting he noticed that the plates were real china and the napkins were cloth. For some reason he liked that she made the effort.

  “Kate this is great but really you didn’t have to go through this much trouble.”

  “Thanks but it was nothing. I just thought— she stopped herself before continuing.

  “You thought what?”

  “Never mind.” She took the seat opposite him. “Eat.”

  “No, I don't think I will,” His response came out with an edge he hadn’t intended.

  “You don’t like pancakes, eggs and bacon?” She looked disappointed.

  “The food is great,” he replied. “It’s the fact that you won't tell me what you were going to say, that I don't like.”

  “Oh.” She felt embarrassed now. She didn’t want to tell him.

  “It’s really not a big deal.”

  “So why not tell me?”

  “Because I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

  “Wrong idea? Why don’t you stop being so worried about what I am going to think and just say what’s on your mind?”

  “Okay fine. I was going to say, I thought it would be nice to eat off my good plates since you are the first man that has ever been to my home.”

  “I see,” he said again confused by her contradictions, one minute she seemed to say what was on her mind and the next she was clamming up. “Why would that give me the wrong idea?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly, looking down at her empty plate. “I didn't want you to think that I thought what we did was more than it was, that’s all. I know it was just sex between us. I honestly do and when it comes to you and me, it was just sex. But for other reasons that have nothing to do with you, it meant more to me than just physical pleasure.

  “So what are the reasons?” Jaxon asked her straight out.

  “You don't want to hear my story Jaxon—really. Let’s just keep this light and enjoy our breakfast okay.”

  “I want to hear it; I want to know why you agreed to sleep with me.”

  She thought about it for a moment. She really didn’t want to tell him her stupid story. But after all these years she really wanted to tell someone. Maybe telling someone would be another way for her to finally get past it.

  “Okay, well when I was eighteen I was engaged to my high school sweetheart. On our wedding day I caught him in our wedding suite with another woman. Thankfully it was before the ceremony, so I had a chance to call off the wedding before making the biggest mistake of my life. There’s my story.”

  “Shit Kate, I’m really sorry. Do you ever run into the guy?”

  “No,” she replied quickly. “Last I heard he still lives in Lively, Connecticut, where we grew up.”

  “So how did you end up in Manhattan?”

  “Lucky for me I had applied to college without telling anyone. I wasn’t planning on going; I just wanted to see if I could get in. I was accepted but since I had no intentions of going I declined the offer. Anyway after I called off the wedding, I contacted them to see if it wasn’t too late to change my mind. They said it wasn’t so I packed my things the next day and left home. I haven’t been back since.”

  “That must have been a very difficult time for you.” He felt for her. He knew what it was like to have the people you thought you knew, the people you trusted, betray you.

  “It broke my heart Jaxon. So badly in fact that you are the first man I have been with in any way shape or form—aside from the odd coffee date—in over a decade. So today I finally feel free. Free of the demons that haunted me for so many years. I'm ready to move on with the next chapter of my life and, for the first time in a long time, I am open to the possibility that there could be someone out there for me.”

  “Did you love him?” He didn’t know why he asked that. Of course she loved him; why else would she be so torn over what happened?

  “To be honest I don’t think I did,” she said with a forced smile. But he could still see hurt behind her facade.

  “If you never loved him why did it hurt you so bad?”

  “Oh,” she said. “The part I didn’t tell you was the woman I found him with was my twin sister Kelsey.”

  Jaxon shook his head in dismay. He had a twin brother and they were as close as two people could be. To think that a brother, a twin at that, could do something so horrible to the other sibling was not even fathomable to him.

  She misunderstood his expression. “Look I know you probably think I should just have gotten over it. The fact that I would let a man get between me and my sister is ridiculous. But you don’t understand. She is my twin. She was a big part of my life and to think she could do something like that, well it broke me.”

  “I couldn’t imagine anything worse Kate. Surprisingly enough I also have a twin and if Jason ever did something like that to me I would react the same way. Jason is the only person in this world who could ever break me if he wanted to. The only person I trust enough to surrender that power to. So no I don’t think your feelings are ridiculous.”

  Kate had never imagined that Jaxon of all people would understand. She smiled appreciatively at him. “Thanks for that.”

  “It’s true Kate; I can’t believe she could do something like that to you. Did you ever talk to her about it? Did you find out why she did it?”

  “No, like I said when I left I never went back.”

  “So you don’t see your parents?”

  “Sometimes, they come to visit. Otherwise I just speak to them on the phone.”

  “How do they feel about what happened between you and your sister?”

  “I never told them. I didn’t want to hurt them. But enough about my story tell me about you and your brother. Did you two ever fight over a girl growing up?”

  Jaxon coughed it was almost a chuckle as if she said something funny. “My brother is gay, so no we have never competed over a woman.”

  “Oh,” she said feeling embarrassed. Not that being gay was an issue to her it was just that he was so masculine she found it hard to imagine his twin would be so opposite. Then again she and Kelsey were nothing alike in the personality department either. Kate would never do what Kelsey did to her. She wanted off the subject of siblings.

  “So why are you so against relationships Jaxon? I mean I told you my story.”

  He brushed his finger down her nose in a playful manner. “This is your celebration breakfast remember and we won't be ruining it with my sordid past.”

  Sordid? What did that mean? “So how does a guy become the owner of a strip club anyway?” That question shouldn’t be too personal.

  “Well it’s quite simple. I used to be a dancer myself.”

  That was no surprise to her. The way he removed his clothing was far from amateur. “So you said—used to. Does that mean you aren’t anymore?”

  “No.”

  “Why not? I mean you would give any of those guys I saw at the club a run for their money.”

  “I thought it would be better if I left the dancing to the younger guys and I focus on the business end of things.” She thought there was more to it but she didn’t press him.

  “And you own a factory? It seems like an unlikely combination.”

  “Well I like to diversify,” he said, offering her a brilliant smile, showing off his perfect teeth. “But it's not really a stretch. We manufacture sex toys.”

  He paused, as if waiting for a response. She refused to give him the reaction he was surely expecting.

  “So do you make any items I might have heard of?”

  “Are you familiar with sex toy
s?” He was sure she wasn’t.

  “No, but I didn't know what else to say.”

  That made him chuckle. “Maybe we can do something about that,” he said.

  Once again he had managed to cause her to blush. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “You don't know what you are missing.” If she read between the lines it almost sounded to her that he was willing to consider…no she was wrong he said a one shot deal and really that was all she wanted as well.

  “I'll take my chances she retorted.” The subject was making her uncomfortable. She stood up from the table to bring her empty plate to the sink.

  “So Kate, what are your plans today?”

  “Nothing much I’m just planning on heading over to Jade’s to check on her.”

  “You have mentioned that a few times today. Why do you need to check on her, is something wrong?”

  She wasn't going to tell Jaxon about Jade's problems, or hers when it came to Kenny. She had already told him too much when she told him about Eldon.

  “Well she had lots to drink last night and normally she never drinks so I just want to stick close if she needs my help.”

  “You are hanging around to tend to your friends hangover.” He sounded skeptical; her ability to stretch the truth might have been slipping.

  “Yes is something wrong with that?”

  “Not at all but it seems to me like there is something you aren’t telling me. Does it have to do with the reason that guy was here this morning?”

  It did, however, she really didn’t know what that was herself yet. But she had a bad feeling. The way Kenny was acting actually scared her, but she wasn't about to drag Jaxon in the middle of it. She could tell he was the type of guy that would probably march across the street and call Kenny out. She didn't want that. Jade would never forgive her. Once he was gone she would try to get to the bottom of things.

  “I need to get into the shower, it’s getting late.”

  “Okay I get it; you don’t want to tell me. It’s fine go take your shower I will clean up here.

  “That won’t be necessary Jaxon I can do that later. I’ll walk you out.”

  “No, you cooked and I’ll clean.”

  The thoughts of Jaxon being domestic, cleaning up the breakfast mess actually sounded sexy to her, she considered skipping the shower in favour of watching him work. But it was getting late so she left him alone to do his thing.

  ***

  CHAPTER 7

  The hot spray of the shower felt amazing on Kate's still overly sensitive skin. Now that she was alone she could take a minute to actually absorb what had gone on between them. Sex with Jaxon had been more than she had ever expected it could be. Even though she played it off as more of a feather in her cap, she was smitten. He was so gentle with her… so perfect. She couldn’t imagine her first time being any better. She couldn’t believe he performed oral sex on her. She shivered from the memory. It was the most mind blowing sensation she had ever experienced, that was until he pushed himself inside her, causing her to feel a connection that she had never felt with another person before.

  She kind of wished she hadn’t invited him to stay for breakfast. She wouldn’t have known that he had so much more to offer than a sinful body and a beautiful face. He was actually quite easy to talk to. She had never shared her story about Eldon and Kelsey with anyone before then he shocked her by telling her he was a twin as well. He understood her bond with Kelsey and validated the deep hurt her sister’s betrayal had caused. She really didn’t want to know what else they had in common. What other endearing qualities he possessed. Thinking about it, she wished she told him to let himself out while she was in the shower, things would be less awkward. How do you say good- bye to someone that you had just lost your virginity to when you know you will never see him again? Hey thanks for stopping by. I appreciate the orgasm.

  Dressed in casual khaki pants and a plain white t-shirt, Kate looked at herself in the mirror. She felt different but she still looked the same. She wasn’t sure what she expected to see. It wasn’t like a scarlet letter was going to magically appear on her shirt, letting the world know she was no longer pure. She smiled at herself for being so silly.

  She left the bedroom and found Jaxon waiting for her in the kitchen, where she had left him. The dishes were washed and the kitchen was—once again—orderly. The almost perfect red daisy was the only thing left on the table, a fleeting reminder of what they shared.

  “Thank you Jaxon. It looks great.”

  “My pleasure.” His smile was so sexy she wanted to melt. “It was the least I could do after you cooked breakfast.”

  Kate really wanted to say breakfast was the least she could do to repay him for the out of body experience he had given her, but thought better of it. Why make things more uncomfortable then they were about to become.

  “So, I guess you probably have to get going,” she said nervously as he sat casually at the table, as if he had no cares in the world. Of course he didn’t he probably did this kind of thing all the time.

  “Yes, I probably should be going. I have somewhere I need to be in about an hour.”

  “Okay, well thanks for... um stopping by.” Definitely awkward. She had no clue what to say and she wasn’t sure if she should hug him, or kiss him, or none of the above. A handshake was definitely out. Twice she tried that with him and twice she was almost knocked on her ass by the invisible electricity between them. She decided to give him a little wave for lack of a better idea. He gave her the strangest look. That apparently wasn’t the right thing to do. She crossed her arms over her chest to settle her stomach which was in knots. He hadn’t said anything or gotten up from the table.

  “Jaxon is something wrong?”

  “Nope, I’ll be going now.” He still had that strange look on his face but he was at least now standing.

  He shook his head and mumbled something to himself on his way to the door. He threw it open, but instead of walking through, he slammed it again. He did an about face and strode back toward her with purpose, only stopping when his face was inches from hers.

  His quick motion startled her. She held her breath as she waited anxiously to see what he was going to do next. She felt his hand come around the back of her neck before he crushed his lips to hers. The kiss lasted only a few seconds but it was a scorcher. Just long enough to scramble her brains, but short enough to leave her wanting more.

  “Thanks for the hospitality,” he said leaving Kate in a jaw dropping stupor. He strode back to the door again. This time when it closed he was on the other side of it.

  Gathering her wits after his jaw dropping performance, Kate ran to the window and peeked out through the curtains, to watch him leave. This was likely the last time she would ever see him. She wanted one last look, as a reminder, or maybe she was just a sucker for punishment. He revved the engine of his sleek silver sports car and squealed out of the driveway. Sadness washed over her as she watched the tail-lights of his vehicle disappear around the corner. A one night stand was what he offered and it was what she had said she wanted. Being deflowered by a man that she barely knew was supposed to avoid complications of a relationship that she didn’t need or want—at least that was the plan—though now she wasn’t sure if she really wanted to avoid the complicated part. It hadn’t been his fault; it was her own stupid fault for thinking she could hand over her virginity without feel anything afterwards. Now that he was gone new emotions began to surface. Ones that told her maybe Jaxon was right she should not have given her virginity to man she would never see again because she already missed him.

  Thirty minutes later Jaxon drove through the security gates of his massive property on the outskirts of Manhattan. He lived in Deerfield, the most elite subdivision around. The ride should have taken him more like forty minutes, but he was so pissed with himself over that kiss he just had to leave her with, that he broke the speed limit the entire way home. He was as edgy and agitated as fuck. Kate had given him exactly wha
t he wanted; the opportunity to make an exit without guilt. The problem was he didn't like it one bit. To make matters worse, without even thinking, he’d gone back and given her one last kiss—as if his body was on autopilot. He’d wanted to leave her wanting more. He’d been so stupid! It backfired, overwhelmingly. He was the one wanting more—so much more of her.

  His sprawling property spanned two acres and his twelve thousand square foot; two- storey home was located in the far south corner of the property. He drove up to the steps of his massive pale-stoned mansion. It was Saturday and every Saturday afternoon he could always be found stretched out in front of the tube watching baseball. Although he had season tickets to the Yankees he never used them, he preferred the quiet of his own home. That wasn’t the full reason but he never let his mind go there if he could help it. Besides he really did prefer the quiet during his down time. Being alone meant he didn’t have to make idle conversation—not that he wasn’t well versed on almost every subject known to man—but he just didn’t like to interact with others unless it was on a business level.

  A man's home was his castle and Jaxon's castle was off limits to everyone, except his brother—who also happened to be a live-in assistant—and of course, his son Grayson, who only visited him a few times a year. Elise, the boy’s mother had never actually stepped beyond the foyer. He always welcomed her in, but claiming she was in a hurry she always declined the offer. Like she couldn’t bear to be in his company for a long period of time. Most days he thought it was better the way things were anyway; very little contact between the two of them. Most things that came up regarding Grayson went through Jason first. He decided if it was something Jaxon needed to know. It sounded like he was a father that didn’t care but he really wasn’t. He trusted Jason completely and truth be told Jason did in fact tell him everything including the small stuff. Like just last week his son had gotten an A in an algebra test.

  Jaxon made his way into the kitchen to grab a beer. Jason was sitting at the table doing a crossword puzzle.