Jax (Broken Strings #1) (3 page)

“Try me,” he said, before covering her mouth with his own in a kiss designed to brand her, possess her.

A knock sounded on the door. “Jax?” Kane’s voice sounded right outside. “Dude, we have to go.”

“Coming,” Jax called out, his eyes never leaving Amaranth’s. “I mean it,” he said quietly, his fingers caressing the soft skin of her ass. “No underwear. Now hurry up and get your fine ass on that bus, before I change my mind.”

Amaranth jerked away from him, her eyes flashing angrily. “You don’t own me, Jax Hawthorne.”

“Yes, I do,” he growled, stalking her like prey. “For the next five days you’re mine, and I have no problem taking you every way I want, whenever I want… wherever I want. You’ve kept me waiting for six fucking years, Amaranth, I won’t be denied this time.”

“Six… years?” Amaranth gasped in disbelief.

Jax nodded. “So, unless you want me to pick you up and fuck you senseless against the wall right now, I suggest you get your ass on that bus.”

Amaranth nodded slowly, backing away from him before turning and opening the door, slipping through the crack and squeezing past a grinning Kane.

“Don’t start,” Jax warned as Kane came into the room.

“Who? Me?” Kane feigned innocence. “I wouldn’t dream of it. So what did the delectable Amaranth want?”

“A ride,” Jax said as roadies swarmed into the room and began stripping it bare of their belongings.

“A ride, huh?” Kane asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Don’t be a dumbass,” Jax laughed. “She just wants to get back to Michigan.”

“Tessa’s gonna be pissed,” Kane warned. “You know she’s had a thing for you since high school.”

Jax sighed. “I know,” he admitted. “But I couldn’t turn Amaranth away.”

“I understand,” Kane said indulgently. “But it’s not me you need to convince.”

Jax nodded slowly. “You’re right,” he answered.

“Well I know one thing for sure,” Kane said, another grin on his handsome face. “This is gonna be one hell of a ride!”

Jax couldn’t argue with that. But what was he supposed to do? He’d wanted Amaranth for far too long, and now she was his. Maybe it was a little underhanded, but he was sure that after he’d fucked her, he’d finally be able to move on from his obsession with her.

It wasn’t like anything could go wrong… could it?

CHAPTER FOUR

“What the hell is she doing here?” Tessa demanded as Jax lead Amaranth onto the bus.

He paused, unsure of how to explain… but he didn’t need to worry.

“Back off, bitch,” Amaranth snarled beside him. “I was invited.”

A slight grin tugged at the corner of Jax’s lips, clearly the little spitfire could fend for herself.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Tessa said icily, stalking up to Amaranth and poking her in the chest. “Did I say you could go through my shit?”

“Tessa,” Kane warned from where he was sitting on a couch on the other side of the bus.

“I’m sorry,” Amaranth said,

smiling sweetly. “Jax told me it would be okay, you know, since he ripped my top off in the dressing room.”

Tessa slid Jax a vicious glance before turning her gaze back to Amaranth. “Get the fuck off this bus,” she snarled, her nose pressing up against Amaranth’s.

“Make me,” Amaranth bit back.

“Ladies, ladies,” Kane said, standing up and moving over to them, barely able to disguise his grin.

Tessa shot him a vicious sideways glance before flouncing off to the other side of the bus.

Jax suppressed a grin of his own. He’d thought he’d have to protect Amaranth, but clearly she was capable of defending herself.

“Hey Ammy,” Kane said with a smile, gently laying a hand on her arm.

Jax flinched at the familiar nickname. He’d always hated it when people called her Ammy. An Amaranth was an immortal flower, it should be revered, worship, loved.

Just like her.

He took Amaranth’s arm and, ignoring Tessa’s heated gaze, led her to a curtain covered area at the back of the bus.

He stepped back and allowed her to precede him, watching her face carefully as she took her first look at how he lived.

Everyone assumed that the life of a famous rock star was glamorous, with five star hotels that they trashed every night. The truth was, this huge renovated bus was their home.

He swallowed hard as she moved to sit on the edge of his large bed, crossing her legs in that damn short skirt as she smiled up at him.

“Nice place you’ve got here,” she observed.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” he chuckled, moving to sit beside her.

He watched as she shifted, her skirt riding higher up her thighs.

Jax suppressed a groan as she leaned forward to adjust her boots, giving him an eyeful of her buxom cleavage.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said gruffly, standing up as he attempted to conceal his suddenly hard cock. “There’s a shower through there,” he said, pointing to a closed door on the other side of the room. “Feel free to make yourself at home.”

He pushed his way out of the room and threw himself into the nearest couch.

Kane looked at him, a knowing grin on his handsome face. “Everything okay?” he asked.

Jax shot him a venomous look. “Everything’s great,” he lied. “Are we leaving soon?”

“Any minute,” Kane answered, walking over to him and handing him a cold can of beer. “Is Ammy alright?”

Jax glared at him. “Don’t call her that,” he snapped.

“Hey man, take it easy,” Kane said, his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline in shock. “What’s gotten into you?”

“I’ll tell you what’s gotten into him,” Tessa answered as she stood up from her own curtain covered bed. “That bitch in there is what’s gotten into him.”

“Tessa,” Kane warned, but she was having none of it.

“Why the hell is she here?” she snapped.

“She needed a ride back to Michigan,” Jax said. “We’re headed there, so I told her she could come with us.”

“But why on the bus?” Tessa demanded. “Why not just give her the money for a plane ticket?”

“Look, it was my choice and I made it, alright?” Jax snapped. He’d finally had enough. “You don’t have to like it, Tess, but you
will
fucking respect it. Understand?”

Tessa narrowed her blue eyes at him. “Sure Jax,” she said, a fake smile on her face. “Whatever you say.”

She dropped back on her bed and picked up a book, pretending to ignore him.

Jax sighed and stood up, nursing his beer. With a nod towards Kane, he moved back into his room, dropping the curtain into place.

He could hear the sound of the shower, and his balls tightened as he imagined Amaranth’s naked body writhing beneath the hot water.

He made a mental note to fuck her in the shower at least once.

Jax sat on the edge of his bed and took a mouthful of his beer.

Why the hell
had
he agreed to drive Amaranth back to Michigan? Tessa certainly made a valid point – he could have paid for her flight home.

But the truth was, he’d lusted after Amaranth for the past six years of his life. Fate had thrown him a proverbial bone, and if he didn’t take this chance now, it wasn’t likely to ever come again.

Better to fuck her senseless now, than regret not doing so later.

“Jax?” Tessa’s voice sounded outside the curtain and he stood, opening the curtain to find her standing there a little sheepishly, a full plastic bag in her hand.

“What’s this?” he asked, taking the bag she offered.

Tessa blushed and ducked her head. “I just thought she may like some clean clothes,” she said.

Jax looked at her skeptically.

“Look,” she said, brushing her long hair out of her face, eyes flashing angrily. “Just take them, alright?”

“What’s with this attitude, Tess?” he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Nothing,” she sighed. “I guess I’m just tired. I’m gonna go to bed.”

“Alright,” he agreed. “Goodnight lovely.”

“Goodnight,” she said quietly, turning and walking unsteadily back to her own room as the bus pitched forward and slowly rumbled out of the parking lot.

They were on their way.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and rummaged through the bag. There was an assortment of punk style skirts, tops, pants and even a brand new pair of fishnet stockings.

Jax adjusted his jeans as he felt his cock harden once more at the thought of Amaranth in fishnets.

There was no underwear in the bag, most likely due to sanitary reasons, and he made a mental note to have Toby send one of the assistants to Victoria’s Secret first thing tomorrow.

He grabbed a black top with long mesh sleeves, a short tartan skirt and the fishnets from the bag. Standing, he made his way on unsteady feet to the bathroom door, gripping the handle as the bus turned a corner.

He knocked, but there was no answer. Pushing open the door, he froze when he saw the silhouette of Amaranth’s lithe body behind the shower curtain, undulating under the water as steam rose from the top.

He stood, transfixed, as her hands cupped her breasts beneath the water. He could clearly see her fingertips lightly pinch her nipples, before her hands continued their exploration of her body, down the flat planes of her stomach and between her legs. He clearly heard her audible moan as she touched herself.

He shifted uncomfortably as his cock sprang to attention, his balls aching as they rubbed against his jeans.

He had to get out of there.

Placing the clothes down on the clean basin, he stepped out of the bathroom and quietly closed the door, taking a deep breath. He had to get himself under control, he had to be the one in charge. She’d evaded him for far too long, he couldn’t waste this opportunity by acting like a horny teenager.

The shower stopped and he turned back to the door, perversely listening for any sounds. Through the door he heard the sweet sound of her voice as she hummed. His eyebrows shot up in surprise as he recognized the melody – it was
Bonnie & Clyde
– the song he’d written for her back in high school, and Manacle’s number one hit!

Her humming stopped, and he raced back to the bed, sitting on the edge and leaning over with his forearms resting on his knees, hoping he looked nonchalant.

The bathroom door opened and he glanced up, his jaw practically hitting the floor.

Big mistake.

Amaranth entered the main bedroom area, drying her long hair with a white towel.

Tessa’s clothes fit her like a glove, and Jax was almost tempted to wipe his chin, sure that he was drooling.

Her tits poked invitingly out of the shirt, and her long legs were perfectly toned beneath the leather skirt. He found himself offering up a quick prayer that she would bend over so that he could have a better look.

Someone up there must have heard him, because all of a sudden the bus lurched and she pitched forward, landing face down… directly on his lap.

He sucked in a breath as he caught sight of her bare ass beneath the short skirt.

No panties.

She moved on his lap, trying to get up. Jax grabbed her hips and held her perfectly still, closing his eyes as he took a few deep breaths in an attempt to slow the fire that burned low in his stomach.

“Stay still,” he muttered through gritted teeth.

“Jax,” Amaranth whimpered, wriggling against him once more.

His hands firmly around her waist, he lifted her up and placed her back on her feet between his knees.

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against her belly, inhaling her sweet scent deeply. She smelled of vanilla and citrus, the perfume making him light headed with desire.

His fingers left her hips, trailing a slow path down the back of her thighs and back up to her ass. His palms cupped it, stroking lightly and she moaned low in her throat, her hands going to the back of his shoulders, gripping his long hair in her fists.

She tugged it hard, and he was lost.

With a low growl he dug his fingers into her ass cheeks, flipping them both around so that she was on her back in his bed, he laying heavily on top of her.

His mouth pressed hotly against hers, his teeth nipping lightly at her full bottom lip.

Amaranth gasped into his mouth as his hand crept up her stomach to her breast, finding the sensitive nipple beneath the flimsy black singlet. Her back ached as his fingers deftly plucked at it, twisting it slightly until it was nothing more than a hardened pebble.