Page 1 of The Bitter Words

Chapter One

JAXON/JAX

Now

Frozen Portraits & One Last Illusion

Some realizations don’t land until the wreckage is already burning.

I’m on my plane, leaving Malaysia, going back to LA, and home to Livianna. I’m more excited than I have been about anything in recent months.

The jet knifes through the sky. It’s been two and a half weeks since I’ve seen her, which is way more than my system can handle. And by saying my system, I mean my heart.

I glance at the message I sent her earlier about coming home, hoping for a response. It’s in the middle of the night there, so I don’t expect anything.

The problem is, I notice my text failed to be delivered. I try to send the text again, and it fails twice.

I check my phone. No bars. No Wi-Fi.

My loyal flight attendant, Judy, approaches. “Can I get you anything, Mr. Crowne?”

“Can you tell me if the Wi-Fi is working?”

“They were having issues with it earlier, but I thought itwas fixed.” She grows a tight smile. “I apologize I didn’t warn you.”

“That’s not a problem, but please see what you can find out.” A hole of unease opens in my stomach. “Also, can you please bring me a double scotch?”

“Yes, Mr. Crowne. I’ll be right back.” She saunters toward the front of the cabin.

I glance out the window. We’re high above the clouds.

If the Wi-Fi is down for the entire trip, I won’t be able to give Livianna a heads-up that I’ll be able to hold her soon, witness her fingers grabbing the silk sheets as she arches her back up while she trembles from the release of her powerful orgasm.

I shift to hide my growing erection. Just thinking about her has me wanting her like she’s sitting next to me. Damn, that woman does wild things to me.

Judy sways back to me with my drink in hand and places it on the table in front of me. “Here’s your scotch, sir. The Wi-Fi is down again. We’re experiencing some technical difficulties with it. Unfortunately, unless we land and try to get it fixed, it won’t be available for the remainder of the trip.”

“Nothing can be done?”

“It might work from time to time, so you can keep checking it, but I can’t promise anything.”

I half growl, not liking her answer, but it’s not her fault. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“You’re welcome. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“Not right now.”

I sip on my drink while trying to figure out what I can do for the next seventeen hours. I open my laptop and start clearing the inbox I preloaded at the hotel.

Methodically, I read through and respond to the emails, knowing the recipients won’t receive the follow-up until I’m connected to the server again.

Contracts, bulletins, a sponsorship deck, and then her name.

It’s an email from a private account Livianna set up for private communications between us.

My pulse quickens and my chest lifts. I click on the message with my chest ballooning. That is until I read it.

Jax,