“Can you not be so… inappropriate?”I hissed, cheeks warm.
His chuckle was low.“Hard not to be with a kiss like that.”
“Try harder.”
“Is he watching?”Jaxon asked casually, his head still tucked into the crook of my neck.
I swallowed and glanced over his shoulder.Chase hadn’t even tried to hide it.
“Yes,” I muttered.
A wicked smile curved against my skin.
“Then let’s give him something to watch.”He lifted his head, eyes gleaming.“We leave now.Make it look like we got a little too heated and decided to finish this somewhere private.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he stole the words with another quick kiss—nothing deep, nothing slow, yet it left my thoughts scattered all the same.
“Jaxon—”
“Trust me,” he said softly.
Before I could answer, a voice cut through the moment.
“Alright everyone, we’re ready to start opening the rest of the gifts!”Lori called from behind him.“Please take your seats.”
Jaxon didn’t move.He just looked down at me, eyes alight with mischief.
“So,” he asked quietly, “would you rather sit through another hour of this… or leave with me where we have lots and lots of pretend sex?”
I rolled my eyes at his tone, at the implication threaded through it, even as my heart raced.“We wouldn't have… ugh, you're so annoying.”
“And yet,” he said, smiling, “you know you're coming.”
I sighed.“Lead the way then.”
That was all the permission he needed.
“Good,” he murmured, straightening and pulling me gently to my feet.His arm slid around my waist like it belonged there, steering me toward the exit.I felt every stare as we crossed the room, felt Chase’s gaze burning into my back.
As we passed the bar, Jaxon glanced over and smirked.
“Follow my lead,” he whispered to me.
Before I could react, he scooped me up effortlessly in his arms and tossed me over his shoulder.I squealed at the unexpected action, half-protesting as my hands flew to his back.
“Jaxon!”I hissed.
He just laughed, carrying me through the lounge doors and straight across the lobby like he didn’t care who saw.Mortified didn't even begin to cover what I was feeling.I avoided the curious glances of the men and women in the lobby, pounding on Jaxon's back.
“Jaxon!”
It wasn’t raining anymore when we stepped outside, but the sky still hung heavy and overcast.Jaxon didn’t give me a chance to adjust to the cooler air before he carried me straight toward his car, my stomach lurching with each step.
“Put me down,” I protested, pounding my fists lightly against his back.“Jaxon—seriously.”
He chuckled, low and pleased, and only relented once we reached the passenger side.He set me on my feet, but instead of stepping away, he crowded in, one hand braced against the door, the other still firm at my waist.The space between us evaporated.
I scowled and smacked his chest in reprimand.“I can't believe you just did that!”
