Ava sat at her desk, trying to focus on the report she had been working on for the past hour, but her mind kept drifting back to Jaxon. Last night had been a whirlwind, a haze of passion and desire that still lingered in her veins like a drug. She had woken up this morning with her heart racing, her body still humming with the aftershocks of their intense connection. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced, and that both thrilled and terrified her.
She had always been so careful, so controlled. But Jaxon was pulling her into a world where control was an illusion, where the lines between business and pleasure were dangerously blurred. And she couldn't get enough of it.
A knock on her office door jolted her from her thoughts, and she quickly straightened, brushing a hand through her hair as she called out, "Come in."
The door swung open, and to her surprise, it wasn't one of her assistants, but Caleb Sterling standing there, his handsome face creased with concern. He was a familiar comfort in her life, a man she had relied on for years, both professionally and personally. But today, his presence felt like an intrusion a reminder of the part of her life she had tried to keep separate from Jaxon.
"Caleb," she greeted, forcing a smile as she motioned for him to enter. "What brings you here?"
Caleb stepped into the room, closing the door behind him as he crossed the distance to her desk. He didn't sit, just stood there, studying her with those intense, all seeing eyes. "I wanted to check in on you," he said, his voice soft but laced with an edge of worry. "You've seemed… distracted lately. Is everything okay?"
Ava's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening with a flash of guilt. Caleb knew her too well; he could read her like an open book. And while she had always valued that about him, today it felt like a threat, a vulnerability she wasn't ready to expose.
"I'm fine," she replied, too quickly, her tone too bright. "Just busy, you know how it is."
But Caleb didn't look convinced. He leaned forward, placing his hands on her desk as he fixed her with a penetrating gaze. "Ava, I know you. I know when something's bothering you. And I can't help but feel like you're pulling away from me. If something's wrong, you can talk to me."
Ava swallowed hard, a rush of conflicting emotions swirling inside her. Caleb had always been there for her, always the steady, reliable presence in her life. But what could she say? That she was falling for a man who was the complete opposite of him? That she was losing herself in a dangerous game with Jaxon Reed, a man Caleb had warned her about more than once?
"I appreciate your concern, Caleb," she said carefully, choosing her words with precision. "But really, I'm fine. Just… navigating some new territory, that's all."
Caleb frowned, clearly not satisfied with her answer. He opened his mouth to press further, but before he could, Ava's phone buzzed on the desk between them, interrupting the moment. She glanced at the screen, her heart doing a strange little flip when she saw Jaxon's name.
Can't stop thinking about you. Lunch? - J
Ava's breath caught in her throat, her pulse quickening with a mix of excitement and dread. Jaxon was relentless, a force of nature that seemed determined to pull her further and further into his orbit. And she wasn't sure she had the strength to resist.
She quickly typed out a response.
Lunch sounds good. Text me the details. - A
When she looked up, she found Caleb watching her, his brow furrowed in concern. "Who was that?" he asked, his tone casual, but she could hear the underlying tension.
"No one important," Ava lied, sliding her phone back into her pocket. "Just a work thing."
Caleb didn't seem convinced, but he let it go, straightening and shoving his hands into his pockets. "Alright," he said slowly, clearly not ready to drop the subject. "But if you need anything, anything at all, you know where to find me."
Ava smiled, but it felt tight, forced. "I know, Caleb. Thank you."
With a reluctant nod, Caleb turned and left her office, closing the door behind him with a soft click. Ava let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to regain her composure. Caleb's concern was genuine, but it was also suffocating, a reminder of the safety and stability she was turning her back on.
But even as she tried to push the guilt aside, another part of her, more reckless couldn't help but feel a thrill at the thought of seeing Jaxon again. The memory of his touch, the heat of his kiss, was still fresh in her mind, and she craved more, even though she knew it was dangerous.
As the clock ticked closer to noon, Ava couldn't concentrate on her work. Every thought led back to Jaxon, to the way he made her feel, the way he challenged her and made her want things she had never dared to want before. Her heart raced with anticipation, her mind spinning with a thousand what ifs as she imagined what their lunch would entail.
Just as the clock struck twelve, her phone buzzed again with a message from Jaxon.
Meet me at the roof of The Edge. Penthouse level.-J
Ava's breath caught as she read the message. The Edge was one of the most exclusive hotels in the city, and its rooftop offered a breathtaking view of Manhattan a view reserved for only the most elite. She knew exactly where he was inviting her, and the thought sent a thrill of excitement through her.
With a quick glance at the clock, Ava gathered her things, ignoring the nagging voice in her head that told her she was playing with fire. She had come too far to turn back now. She wasn't going to let fear dictate her decisions. Not this time.
The ride to The Edge was a blur, her heart pounding with every passing block. By the time she stepped out of the elevator onto the penthouse level, her palms were slick with sweat, and her stomach fluttered with a mixture of nerves and anticipation.
The rooftop was just as stunning as she remembered an expansive space with floor-to-ceiling glass walls that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline. But the breathtaking view was nothing compared to the sight that greeted her as she stepped outside.
Jaxon was waiting for her by the edge, his back to her as he stared out at the city below. The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over his dark hair, the light catching the sharp angles of his face as he turned at the sound of her footsteps.
"Right on time," he said, a slow smile spreading across his lips as he took her in. "I like that."
Ava's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him, his presence commanding the space, his gaze holding her captive. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and tailored trousers, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the sinewy muscles of his forearms. There was something about him, something magnetic, that made it impossible to look away.
"Punctuality is important," Ava replied, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.
Jaxon's smile widened as he crossed the distance between them, his eyes dark and intense as they raked over her. "So is trust," he murmured, his fingers brushing against hers as he took her hand, sending a jolt of electricity up her arm. "Do you trust me, Ava?"
Ava's heart skipped a beat at the question, her mind spinning with the implications. Did she trust him? She wasn't sure. But there was a part of her, a small, dangerous part, that wanted to. That wanted to believe in the possibility of something real, something lasting, between them.
"I'm working on it," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jaxon's smile softened, and he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "Good. Because trust is the foundation of any partnership. And I want to build something solid with you, Ava. Something that lasts."
Ava's breath hitched at his words, the sincerity in his tone making her pulse race. She wanted to believe him, wanted to give in to the pull she felt toward him, but the rational part of her ,the part that had always kept her safe was screaming at her to be careful.
But before she could respond, Jaxon's lips found hers in a kiss that made her mind go blank, all her doubts and fears evaporating in the heat of his touch. His hands slid down her back, pulling her closer, and Ava melted into him, losing herself in the moment, in the intensity of his kiss.
The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them, lost in a whirlwind of desire. Jaxon's hands roamed her body, his touch firm and possessive, and Ava could feel the last vestiges of her control slipping away, dissolving under the weight of her need.
"Jaxon," she whispered against his lips, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and longing.
But Jaxon didn't give her a chance to second-guess herself. He deepened the kiss, his hands sliding up to cup her face as he pressed her back against the glass wall, his body flush against hers. The heat of him, the feel of his body against hers, was overwhelming, and Ava felt herself giving in, letting go of the last remnants of restraint she'd been clinging to. Jaxon was a force of nature, and she was helpless to resist him.
His lips left a trail of fire down her neck, each kiss sending shivers through her body as his hands explored every inch of her. Ava arched against him, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she surrendered to the sensations coursing through her. This was more than desire this was a raw, primal connection that made her feel alive in a way she had never experienced before.
Jaxon's hand slid down her thigh, hitching it around his hip as he pressed her harder against the glass. The city stretched out beneath them, but all Ava could focus on was the man in front of her, the heat of his body, the intensity of his gaze. His touch was everywhere, igniting her skin, making her forget everything but him.
She tugged at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against hers, to close the distance between them. Jaxon responded in kind, his hands making quick work of the buttons on her blouse, peeling it off her shoulders and tossing it aside. The cool air hit her bare skin, but it was quickly chased away by the warmth of Jaxon's body as he pressed his lips to the curve of her shoulder, his breath hot against her skin.
"Ava," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"
Ava's fingers tangled in his hair, her heart pounding in her chest as she pulled his mouth back to hers. "Then let's get crazy," she whispered, her voice a mix of challenge and need.
Jaxon growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating through her, making her ache for more. He kissed her again, harder this time, his hands sliding beneath the waistband of her skirt, lifting it higher as he pinned her against the glass. Ava gasped at the sensation, the cold glass at her back a stark contrast to the heat between them.
The city hummed around them, the distant sounds of traffic and life a mere backdrop to the pounding of Ava's heart, the rush of blood in her ears. She was lost in Jaxon, in the feel of him, in the way he made her forget everything but the need burning between them. Every touch, every kiss, sent her spiraling further into a whirlwind of passion, a passion that threatened to consume them both.
Jaxon's hand slid beneath the lace of her underwear, his fingers finding the slick heat of her core, and Ava moaned against his lips, her body arching into his touch. The sensation was electric, sending a shockwave of pleasure through her that made her legs tremble, her breath hitch.
"I can't get enough of you," Jaxon whispered, his voice rough with desire as he teased her, his fingers stroking her with a deliberate, torturous rhythm. "You're addictive, Ava."
Ava's head fell back against the glass, her eyes fluttering shut as she surrendered to the pleasure, her body trembling with each touch. "Jaxon," she gasped, her voice breathless, desperate. "Please…"
But Jaxon wasn't ready to give her what she wanted. He kept her on the edge, drawing out her pleasure until she was trembling, every nerve ending alight with need. His lips found hers again, his kiss fierce and demanding, and Ava felt herself spiraling, lost in the intensity of it all.
Finally, when she thought she couldn't take it any longer, Jaxon pulled back, his eyes dark with desire as he lifted her leg higher around his waist. He pressed against her, the hard length of him teasing her entrance, and Ava's breath hitched in anticipation, her body aching for him.
"Tell me you want this," Jaxon demanded, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down her spine.
Ava met his gaze, her heart racing as she saw the raw need in his eyes, the intensity that matched her own. "I want this," she whispered, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "I want you."
That was all Jaxon needed to hear. With one swift motion, he thrust into her, filling her completely, and Ava cried out, the sensation overwhelming, intense. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he began to move, each thrust sending waves of pleasure through her that left her breathless, trembling.
The world outside the glass wall faded into oblivion, leaving only the two of them, locked in a rhythm that was primal, elemental. Jaxon's pace was relentless, his movements sure and deliberate, driving her higher and higher until she was on the brink of losing herself completely.
Ava clung to him, her body arching into his with every thrust, the pleasure building to a crescendo that threatened to consume her whole. She was teetering on the edge, her mind a blur of sensation and desire, when Jaxon's hand slid between them, his fingers finding the sensitive nub at her core, pushing her over the edge.
Ava shattered, her body convulsing with the force of her orgasm, her cry echoing in the space around them. Jaxon followed her over the edge, his grip on her tightening as he buried himself in her one last time, his release ripping through him with a force that left him trembling against her.
For a long moment, they stayed like that, their bodies pressed together, the aftershocks of their passion still pulsing between them. Ava's heart raced, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she tried to process what had just happened, the intensity of their connection leaving her dazed, overwhelmed.
Jaxon slowly lowered her back to the ground, his hands gentle as he brushed a strand of hair from her face, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "You're incredible," he murmured, his voice husky with emotion. "I don't know how I got so lucky."
Ava's heart swelled at his words, her breath catching in her throat as she met his gaze. There was a tenderness in his eyes, a vulnerability that made her want to reach out, to hold onto this moment and never let it go.
But as the reality of their situation began to sink in, a flicker of uncertainty sparked within her. This was real, too real. And it was happening so fast, too fast for her to keep up. She had always been the one in control, the one who kept her emotions in check. But with Jaxon, everything was different. He was different.
Before she could dwell on her thoughts, Jaxon kissed her again, a soft, lingering kiss that chased away her doubts, leaving only the warmth of his touch, the comfort of his embrace. He held her close, his arms wrapped around her as if he could protect her from whatever storm lay ahead.
But Ava knew that the storm was inevitable. This was more than just a fling it was something real, something dangerous. And she wasn't sure she was ready for what that meant.
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the city spread out before them, Ava couldn't help but wonder what would come next. There were so many questions, so many unknowns. But for now, all she could do was hold onto the moment, savor the connection they had found, and hope that when the storm hit, they would survive it together.