Page 67
“Forget the apartment,” he says, like we weren’t discussing something completely life-altering. “I have a surprise for you.”
I blink up at him, still trying to catch my breath. “What kind of surprise?”
That familiar spark of trouble appears in his dark blue eyes. “You’re going to have to come with me and find out.”
Suspicion mingles with excitement in my chest. Jax was always the one who’d drag me into the wildest adventures, the most reckless schemes. While Knox would lecture us about safety and Brax would worry about consequences, Jax was the one who’d grin at me and say, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Usually, we find out, but God help me, my heart is already pounding with anticipation, excitement pouring through my veins like liquid fire. Despite everything— including the rational part of my brain screaming that I should go home and figure out my life—I want to follow him. To see where this leads.
“Fine,” I hear myself saying, even as warning bells clang in the back of my mind. “But if this gets us arrested again, I’m blaming you.”
His grin widens, transforming his face from brooding to beautiful. “Deal.”
I hop into his truck, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around me. The moment I’m settled in the passenger seat, Jax’s hand falls onto my thigh, his palm burning through the denim of my jeans. He gives me a look and a grin that could make the devil swoon.
This man is pure trouble, and I think I love him.
The truck bumps and jostles along a dirt road that probably hasn’t seen maintenance in half a decade. My teeth rattle with each pothole Jax hits, and I grip the door handle like it’s my lifeline.
“Where the hell are you taking me?” I glance over at him, noting the way his grin practically splits his face in half.
“You’ll see,” is all he tells me.
The sun hangs low in the sky by the time we finally reach what I assume to be our destination. A massive wooden tower looms before us, stretching up toward the clouds. It’s not one of those polished tourist traps with safety rails and gift shops. This thing is wild and untamed. A little unsafe and really, really tall.
I turn to study Jax’s profile. He’s glaring at the tower like it personally offends him. My eyes narrow. “Whose property are we on?”
“Don’t worry about it.” That devious smirk spreads across his face as he reaches behind his seat, grabbing a backpack that clanks and rattles with familiar sounds.
I’d know that sound anywhere. “Spray paint? What are you up to?”
“A little casual revenge.” He kills the engine and slips the keys into his pocket.
My eyebrows shoot up. “For what?”
“For Zach kissing you in ninth grade.”
“Jax!”
But he’s already climbing out of the truck. I scramble after him, my shoes hitting the dirt with a thud as I slam the door behind me. “You can’t tag someone’s property for kissing me a million years ago.”
He whirls around so fast I nearly collide with his chest. The space between us evaporates as he steps closer, his irises blazing with something that makes my stomach flip.
“I should kick his ass.” His voice drops to a murmur that sends shivers racing down my spine. “But I’m not.”
My heart hammers against my ribs. “Do you want an award for your self-restraint?”
“As a matter of fact, yes I do.”
Before I can fire back another smart-ass comment, he dives in and captures my lips. The kiss is fierce and demanding, like he’s trying to brand himself onto my soul. Heat kindles, and I think I might like his type of crazy. When he finally breaks away, I’m left dizzy, watching him stride toward the tower stairs like he didn’t just turn my world upside down.
“You’re unhinged, Jax!” I call after him, my voice echoing through the trees surrounding us. We’re encased in a forest. The tower and the old dirt road are the only things disrupting the surrounding nature.
“Only for you!” he shouts back without turning around.
That tower is tall. I hate heights, but I follow him anyway, because apparently I’m as insane as he is. My body buzzes with excitement even though we’re about to do something completely wrong. Jax has always known exactly how to get my blood racing. As wild as this whole thing might seem, I can’t help thinking it’s kind of sweet in the most twisted way possible.
The climb to the top feels endless. My fear of heights claws at my chest with every step up, and my lungs tighten, leaving me breathless. By the time we reach the platform, my legs feel like jelly and my palms are slick with sweat. I swallow the fear, like all the times I did when we were younger.
