CHAPTER 224: TEMPTATIONS

A Rom-com played softly in the background, filling the living room with flickering light and the occasional bursts of laughter and dialogue.

Mari and Jax now lay together on a large blanket in front of the television, a fluffy throw blanket draped loosely over them. The pillows from the couch had been pulled down to cushion their heads, and the bowl of popcorn they’d shared earlier sat forgotten nearby.

Mari was lying on her side, facing the television, but her eyes weren’t on the screen.

Jax was curled around her from behind, his body warm and solid against her back. His arm was draped over her waist, his hand resting lightly just beneath her ribs. His legs tangled gently with hers, and his breath came in soft, steady waves against the back of her neck, warm and ticklish.

Mari tried to focus on the film. She really did. But she couldn’t remember a single scene that had passed. The main character had just confessed something dramatic, and the laugh track chimed in after a quirky line, but it all sounded distant.

All she could feel was Jax.

The warmth of his body enveloped her. His chest rose and fell behind her with every breath, and she could feel the strong, slow thump of his heart pressed into her back. His arm around her felt so secure, his fingers gently curled, resting as if he didn’t even realize he was holding her so close.

But he did.

Jax was very aware of every inch of her. He could smell the faint hint of mint in her hair, could feel the delicate shape of her waist beneath his palm. Her breath came just a little uneven, and he didn’t need to look at her face to know her eyes weren’t on the screen either.

He knew she was thinking about him just like he was thinking about her.

Her warmth. Her scent. The gentle curve of her hips pressing against his thighs. The little sigh she made every time he shifted the smallest bit closer. He was trying to be still, but his body betrayed him, and he knew she was just as aware of him as he was of her.

Jax leaned forward slightly. His nose brushed against the back of her neck. Her hair tickled his cheek. He breathed her in slowly.

Mari felt it. Her whole body went still.

"Jax..." she whispered. Her voice was soft and amused.

"Hmm?" he murmured, his lips barely an inch from her skin.

"Are you even watching the movie?" she asked.

"What movie?" His voice was husky.

Mari giggled. "I don’t know neither." She admitted quietly.

His fingers flexed slightly where they rested on her stomach, and then he began to draw small circles there, just above the hem of her shirt.

The room felt warmer.

Her skin was tingling now. Not just where he touched, but everywhere. She didn’t dare move. Not because she didn’t want to, but because if she moved, she would turn around and kiss him again. And if she did that, she might not stop until they went all the way, and she knew he didn’t want to go all the way with her yet.

So why was he tempting her so?

Jax leaned in again, this time allowing his lips to barely graze the back of her neck.

Mari shivered.

"Are you cold?" he asked, his voice low.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" She asked dryly.

Jax chuckled but he didn’t stop. He placed another soft kiss, lower this time, just at the spot where her shoulder met her neck.

Mari closed her eyes.

Her body pulsed with warmth. His hand slid slightly higher, resting over her ribs now, his thumb brushing softly against the side of her breast, teasing and exploring.

She turned her head a little so she could see him out of the corner of her eye. "Jax..."

He met her gaze with unreadable eyes. "Yeah?"

Her lips parted, but she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to ruin the moment by pushing for more.

Looking into her eyes, he could tell what she was thinking and what she wanted. Jax’s eyes lowered to her lips, then rose again. He leaned in and kissed the spot just beneath her jaw.

Mari trembled.

"This okay?" he asked against her skin.

"Yes," she whispered.

His hand moved again, slowly, brushing along her waist, her ribs, her stomach, then resting at her side once more. He nuzzled into her neck, and she felt his chest rise and fall in a deep breath.

"I like holding you like this," he murmured.

Mari smiled. "I will like it more if you did more than holding me like this."

Jax chuckled. "Of course."

The blanket had slipped a little, but neither of them moved to fix it. Their bodies were too warm to care. Their skin hummed with awareness and every inch of contact felt amplified.

Mari shifted her ass slightly, pressing back against him a little more, and she felt him stiffen behind her.

"Maribel..." His voice sounded strained now.

"Yes?" She asked innocently, but he could hear the amusement in her voice.

"Don’t do that," he said quietly.

"Why not?" she asked innocently.

"Because I’m trying my best to hold back."

"No one asked you to hold back. Hold front," she teased, but her heart was pounding.

Jax kissed her neck again. This time he lingered. "I told you... I’m waiting till Friday. I want to make your birthday more meaningful."

Mari sighed. "It’s not a big deal..."

He slid his hand back down to her stomach and wrapped his arm tighter around her. "It is to me. You’ll understand better on Friday."

"Why do you keep tempting me when you know you don’t want to go all the way."

"It’s not that I don’t want to. I want to, but..."

"Not just now," Mari completed with a roll of her eyes. "Then stop touching me and kissing me."

"Do you know this is the fifth time we’ve been through this conversation already? Each time I stop and move away, you come right back to cuddle," he reminded her.

"So it’s my fault?" She asked, and he laughed.

"Yes, it is your fault for being so damned irresistible."

"Okay then. I’ll take the blame," Mari said as she turned to face him and tilted her face up toward him. Her glasses sat slightly crooked on her nose, and her blue eyes were dreamy.

Jax glanced down at her, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"You’re thinking too much about this. Friday is just two days away. Let’s just say today is my birthday," she said, her voice soft and teasing.

Jax chuckled, his voice husky. "We are going for the sixth round so soon? You’re so damn stubborn."

"Yup, I am," she whispered, leaning up.

Her lips brushed his. Once. Then again.

It wasn’t rushed. It was slow and gentle. But it quickly turned hotter and deeper. Her hand slid up to his neck, pulling him closer. Her lips parted, and Jax groaned softly as he kissed her back, tasting her again.

His hand moved down her side, and she shifted her body slightly, pressing closer to him. Their kisses grew more intense, breath mingling, heat rising. Mari’s hand slipped under the hem of his shirt, her fingers brushing his skin.

"Mari..." Jax murmured against her lips when she touched his nipples.

She kissed him again, her eyes heavy with desire. "I don’t want to wait," she whispered. "I want to take this further."

Jax’s chest rose sharply. He looked at her. Her cheeks were flushed, lips red from all the kissing they’d been doing all day, eyes bright. She looked breathtaking. And she wanted him. He could feel it in the way her body responded to his, in the way she touched and kissed him.

And God, he wanted her, too more than anything but he just didn’t want to do it with her until she knew the exact extent of his feelings for her. He wanted it to be right.

He cupped her cheek with his hands. "I want that too," he said quietly. "More than you know. But we’re not going to do that tonight."

She sighed deeply and rolled her eyes.

"Besides," he said, gently brushing her hair away from her face. "I want to take my time with you. I don’t want our first time to be rushed or random. Chad or anyone could walk in right now..."

"You have a bedroom with a door and lock," she said, trying to kiss his neck.

"Friday, Mari. Let me give you everything then. Please stop trying to change my mind, else I’ll take my coward’s way out as usual and just disappear until Friday," he threatened.

Mari stared at him for a moment gen sighed. "Okay," she said, moving away from him. "Friday."

Jax leaned forward and kissed her forehead, then her nose. "Friday," he repeated softly.

"Until then keep your distance. If I take a step close to you, take several steps away," she said, and he chuckled.

"I’ll try." He glanced at the clock and rose. "I should get started on dinner. Let’s go cook."

"I don’t know if I should come with you or not. There’s something about watching you cook and having that island. You have no idea all the dirty thoughts I’ve had about me, you and the island." She batted her lashes as she held out her hand to him.

Jax laughed as he helped her to her feet. "Just stay here. I’ll do the cooking myself."

Before she could respond her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw it was a group call from Jamal. "I’ll join you later," she told him as she received the call.