Page 48 of Will to Run

“I take the night to kind of watch everyone. I know that sounds creepy, but it’s just this first night. I find it gives me an initial gauge of where my staff is starting this season. Who’s looking to hook up, who’s going to be breaking hearts, if anyone is acting completely different from previous years. It sounds like juicy soap opera shit, but you’d be surprised at the insight you can gather. Cayson, Ev, and I make some gentlemen’s bets too, but Case is out this year. He took the kids home.”

“Well, lead the way then,” I say. Molly and Hazel bound up to jump in, and off we go. When we crash into the bar with about twenty of us, exuberant cheers ring out from the patrons already here celebrating our arrival. My God, this is really a thing!

Dale and Beth stay for a drink and then offer a ride back to anyone, but no one takes it. This crew is looking for a night out, and I’m excited to be part of it.

After we’ve been here for some time, in the middle of a story we are hysterically laughing over, someone interrupts everything.

“Hey there,” he says, staring right at me. “I’m Cliff. You were here last week, and I haven’t seen a woman as beautiful as you before.” His stare is intense, and the way he looks down my body makes me uneasy, which is funny because when Jaxon did that a few hours ago, it elicited a very different response.

Over his shoulder, I see Hazel and Molly fake gag and laugh, while Jaxon looks at the man named Cliff with dark eyes.

“I’d love to dance with you,” he says, looking me up and down again.

Jaxon is half-sitting on the bar stool with his legs spread open, so I take a step back and insert myself between them, leaning into the cradle of his hips, seeking the safety of his physical presence. It’s like we’ve done this a thousand times because he plays along without hesitation, reaching up to hold my hip with his hand. The way that those fingers wrap around me makes me want to go from fake to real. Then I say the first thing that comes to mind. “I’m here with him.”

I could say a litany of things, including just a no, thank you, but I don’t. Maybe because part of me is craving affection, and I am forcing the hand… literally. Maybe my buzzed brain thought it would be a good idea. But Jaxon gently kisses the side of my head as he did earlier, and it causes me to lean even further back into him. He doesn’t say anything to Cliff, just looks at him, almost as if he’s waiting for a challenge. Tension between them fills the silence, and I realize there has to be more at play here… a history that I don’t know.

I can see the man’s gears turning, debating how hard he’s going to push, but rather than engage, he tips his hat. “Welcome to Amberheart Valley, ma’am. Have a good night.”

When he walks away, I stay in my spot. I have to continue to play the part, right? But the reality is, I’ve been so touch-starved that this simple action has me feeling more needy than I want to admit. When his fingers flex on my hip, indicating he’s not letting go, I melt.

Everyone around us carries on as if this isn’t significant, but to me, it is. I suppose most people here know him, so maybe this is nothing new at all. Meanwhile, I’m losing my every-loving mind when I swear, I feel him thicken under my ass. To be fair, I’m pushed pretty far into his crotch, and my dress is thin, but it’s unmistakable.

When people spread out, and Jaxon and I are left at the table, the air between us changes. It’s full of a different kind of tension, and can you measure pheromones? Pretty sure those are raging too. I settle back into how I was for a minute, but quickly turn to him to ask a question that is most assuredly not appropriate, but I can’t stop myself. I’m not drunk-drunk, but the words come out lubricated as if I am. “Do you sleep around?”

His mouth falls open, disbelief flashing across his face before he pauses, as if he needs a second to figure out how to answer me. The corner of his lip twitches up, as if he’s amused. “I… mean…” he shrugs.

Undeterred, I continue to push. “Do you sleep with people just because?”

“I’m not sure how you want me to answer that. I don’t tell women things to get in their pants or anything. But I enjoy sex, yes. And if I happen upon a willing partner that I vibe with, sometimes I’ll continue the night.”

“How many people have you slept with? And do you have to like them to sleep with them?” I ask.

“Tatroe, what? I’m not answering a body count question, and yes, I have to like them to sleep with them. I don’t just look to stick my dick into anyone to get my rocks off.”

“Are you good?” The decorum train has officially left the station. “In bed?”

The sound of disbelief that comes out of his mouth might signal I’ve gone too far. “I mean… I don’t have complaints. Why, what have you heard?” he laughs a little, and I swear he sounds a bit nervous to hear the answer.

“I’ve heard you’re good. Have you ever thought about teaching sex?” I ask with a whisper, as if saying sex is a dirty word and I don’t want anyone to hear me. Because right now, I’m taking all the bravery Quinn has put in my head, all the romance novel things I’ve been curious about, all my horniness, all of my fed-upness with my situation, and I’m throwing it out there. Way the fuck out there.

I haven’t thought of sex lessons until this moment, and that tells me that maybe I’ve had too much to drink, but at the same time, why not? I’ll never see him again, and it will be a blip on my journey, and hopefully, a productive one.

Currently, my confidence in myself and my bedroom abilities is shot, but now that I have a clearer picture of Tripp, maybe it isn’t me that sucked. I want to know for certain. If it turns out I am terrible in bed, maybe Jaxon Wills can be the one to teach me a thing or two. I’m a fast learner, after all. Based on his looks, comments, the chemistry between us, and the fact that I literally feel his dick, I know he has some level of attraction to me. If I make a complete fool of myself, I can leave town with my tail between my legs, never to be seen or embarrassed in the town of Amberheart Valley again. I affirm that this is probably the best idea I’ve ever had, and I’m sure that’s not the booze talking.

He bellows out a laugh before he answers. “A class? Not quite, Del. Could you imagine if we offered sex classes at the ranch? Oh my God, no. Besides the fact that my parents would have a coronary, who in their right mind would sign up for something like that?”

“Me,” I say, looking him square in the eyes. “If you were teaching them, I’d sign up.”

24

JAXON

I’m pretty fucking glad I’m not holding anything in my hand, because I would have dropped it. Did I hear her right? I mean, no. I must be hearing things because there’s no way Della said what I think she just did. She has to be completely hammered, and that puts the fucking brakes on any and everything I planned on doing tonight.

The hand that has been on her hip shifts when she gets even closer. My dick is already at full attention… pretty much has been since she pushed her body into Sir Magnum Biggs when Cliff came over, and it’s been at various stages of excitement since. But now we’re chest to chest, and she’s so close to me, so easily kissable. It physically hurts me to show restraint.

I was so set on making a move, but now that the opportunity is here, I can’t because I’m worried she won’t even remember, or just as bad, regret it.