AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Morning,” Jax drawled as he reached for the shirt he had slung over a fallen beam. But instead of putting it on like Dane needed him to do, Jax used it to wipe his brow. “Didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked,
“What the hell are you doing here?” Dane nearly shouted, then remembered Emma and lowered his voice. He sucked in a breath when Jax suddenly drew close to him, mere inches separating their bodies. But he just glanced at Emma, then stepped back and Dane wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed.
“Figured it might be better to try to get some of this down before it got too hot,” Jax said as he motioned to the pile of wood.
“No! Here! What are you still doing at my house?”
Jax shrugged. “I needed a place to stay. You had a comfy looking couch. It’s not, by the way.”
Dane knew he must’ve looked completely lost because Jax said, “The couch. It’s not comfortable.”
“Jax-” Dane began, but then snapped his mouth shut when Jax suddenly shifted and their bodies were once again nearly touching.
“I like the way you say it,” Jax murmured as he tilted his head and focused in on Dane’s mouth.
“Say what?” Dane asked as a shiver snaked down his spine.
“My name,” Jax responded and he leaned down and took in a deep breath. God, was the man smelling him? And why the fuck did that turn him on?
“Anyone ever tell you your voice is like fine whiskey? Smooth and deep with just the right amount of heat?” Jax said softly.
Lust spiraled through Dane and he knew all he had to do was turn his head just a few inches and he’d be able to taste those firm lips. A voice in the back of his mind was trying to remind him there was something he was supposed to be saying to this man, but for the life of him he couldn’t think what it was. Hot, blunt fingers brushed his waist and drew him in and Dane didn’t bother fighting it. It had been too long since someone had touched him – even the months before losing Isaac had been cold and lonely.
The brief thought of Isaac was enough to bring everything back in a rush for Dane and he yanked himself free of Jax’s gentle hold. He took several steps away from the intoxicating man and was relieved to feel his common sense coming back and replacing the need that had been unfurling within him. The man in front of him was just like Isaac and he’d make Dane suffer the way Isaac had, even if it wasn’t his intention.
Jax watched him intensely for a moment, then sighed and reached for his shirt and tugged it on.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Dane heard himself stammer. So much for the sexy voice Jax accused him of having. He sounded like a whiny child.
“Look, Dane, I was worried about leaving you guys after everything that happened yesterday…last night. I also figured you might need a ride to get your car.”
Dane felt like an ungrateful shit. Yeah, it seemed that for some reason Jax was attracted to him, but if that had been the man’s only motive he could have done a lot with Dane’s vulnerability last night, especially after Dane had all but admitted he was gay when he’d mentioned Isaac. He watched as Jax dropped the sledgehammer and moved past him, presumably to go to his car. Dane knew he would probably pay for it later, but he grabbed Jax by the arm. “Don’t,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. I would appreciate a ride into town.”
* * *
Jax forced away the desire that had flared to life the second he’d seen an infuriated Dane rushing towards him and pulled his arm free of the other man’s gentle grip.
“Sure, no problem,” he said woodenly. “You mind if I use your shower to get cleaned up?”
“Yeah. But would you mind giving me a hand with a patient first?” Dane asked as he motioned to the small building behind the house.
“Uh, yeah,” Jax responded as he looked around the empty driveway. He kept his mouth shut as he followed Dane, assuming the guy just needed help setting up some equipment or something before his patient arrived.
The building was flooded with light when Dane flipped the switch as they entered and Jax instantly welcomed the cool air conditioning that caressed his skin. The front room wasn’t much more than a large, open space with a built in reception counter. Boxes were shoved against the far wall and a couple of plastic folding chairs were sitting against another wall.
Dane must have noticed him eyeing the boxes because he said, “I’m still working on getting my practice up and running. Lucinda’s in back.”
Jax followed Dane down a long hallway and tried very hard not to focus on the gentle sway of the other man’s ass. So much for getting his skyrocketing desire under control. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so caught up in wanting someone like this. On the rare occasion that the other guy wasn’t interested or seemed like the clingy type, Jax had no problem moving on to the next man who’d give him the quick, no strings fuck he was looking for. But something about the strong yet vulnerable Dane Winters had him on edge and the man’s rejection stung.
“I have to keep her in here for now,” Dane was saying as he swung open a door leading to another room. Jax wasn’t sure what surprised him more – the endless row of dog runs that lined the back wall or the high pitched squealing that began the instant Dane turned on the lights.
“What the hell?” he said as they came to a stop in front of the first kennel. A huge pig stood on the other side of the door, her massive snout rubbing up against the chain link. At least a dozen piglets surrounded her, their incessant mewling an exact replica of their mother’s loud greeting. “What the hell kind of doctor are you?” Jax heard himself say.
Dane shrugged. “I started with a small animal practice but decided to train in large animals too in case the need ever came up.”
Jax was sure his mouth was hanging open as he turned to stare at Dane. “You’re a vet?” he asked, the question sounding ridiculous even to his own ears since the evidence was right in front of him.
Dane lowered Emma’s car seat to the ground and began removing the pin that kept the pig from pushing the latch on the door up. “Yeah.”
