Abbi Glines

“I stepped toward the exit, and Jax’s hand shot out and grabbed my arm. I closed my eyes and waited for him to speak. “You think you’re jus t someone I spent time with?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. He looked at me incredulously, and I wasn’t sure what to say. I returned his stare. He seemed angry and hurt.”

“Sadie, please, come talk to me.” “I need to get to work.” He reached out for my hand, and I immediately snatched it back and pocketed both of my hands. “Sadie, please.” I hated the insecure, little boy I saw in his eyes and the fact it got to me. Dang it.”

“Too late. I’ve already seen the blush. Stop trying to hide it from me. I think it’s adorable.”

“I laughed. “I’ll pass. I happen to be interested in someone I don’t really see as the guy in those posters.” He hesitated a moment, and then said, “Thank you.”

“Girl, you better stop apologizing to me. I’m just glad you’re all right. Now, here is Master Jax’s number. You need to call him. He has gone to your house looking for you. I ain’t never seen the boy all worked up and worried as he was when you didn’t show. Don’t you worry about a thing, and call him, please, before he gets the police searching for you.”

“He reacted like I slapped him, and I hated hurting him, but I knew he needed to know. “He doesn’t deserve it. He can have any girl in the world’s love, and he took yours. Someone who deserves so much more than a summer fling.” He stood and started to walk away, but stopped and glanced back at me. “If you were mine, I would never let you go.” He left the kitchen.”

“Morning, Ms. Mary, I will be back to help as soon as I get changed.” Ms. Mary cut her eyes toward me and back toward the table with a frown. I followed her gaze. Leaning back in a kitchen chair, looking ridiculously sexy for seven in the morning, sat Jax. He gave me a crooked grin, and my heart went into frenzy. “Hey,” I said this without sounding affected by his presence. I know he’d said he would be hanging out in the kitchen more often, but I hadn’t realized he meant this early in the morning. “What? Why are you here?” He raised his eyebrows and grinned at me. “I would have thought that would have been obvious.” I knew I was blushing.”

“Your carriage awaits, my lady.” I walked up to him and slipped my hand in his extended arm. “Ever the gentleman,” I teased. “Whatever it takes to make the lady smile.”

“For the first time, the object of what I want is more important than fulfilling my desires.”

“Ah, and you go, do something as enchanting as shivering and almost break my resolve.”

“He smiled and leaned over and asked in a soft voice, “Don’t you know you’re beautiful?” I swallowed, hoping my throat allowed the words through without making me sound all choked up. “I wouldn’t say ‘beautiful.’ I realize I have nice hair and eyes. I got those from my mother. But I don’t have a good personality. So it really takes away from the others.”

“Let her arm go and pray she has no bruise,” a familiar voice said in a low angry tone. I shuddered from relief at the sound of his voice. Trey released my arm and shrugged, grinning. “I just wanted an oyster, and she wouldn’t serve me.” I opened my mouth to protest when the warm fingers holding my arm softly squeezed me for reassurance. So, I stayed quiet. “Jason, please escort your friend to the door. I have no other reason to speak with him unless Sadie has a bruise or any lasting marks from his hands, and then he will see me again.”

“He opened the back. “Well, at leas let me carry them to the door.” “Okay.” I walked with him to the doorway and took the bags from him, and then I reached in and took out the gum. I didn’t know what to say, so I handed it to him and his face lit up. A smile I remembered from the photos of him as a little boy appeared on his face. It wasn’t a smile the world ever caught a glimpse of in magazines. “I take it I was good.”

“When you fall for the one that owns you, she’ll be the only one that has the power to make you cry.”

“Beau’s arms slipped around my waist. I knew I should step away but I couldn’t make myself. This was home. Being in his arms like this was where I found peace.”

“Ashton grinne and raised her eyebrows. "I can't believe you're telling me a Vincent boy brought you to Grove, Alabama and not me."Shrugging, I returned her smile. "They're heard to resist.""Don't I know it.”

“I know I’m doing something wrong and I feel guilty but neither of those things matter enough to make me stop”

“Just hold me please,” she replied. I’d hold her forever if I could.”

“Sitting here and waiting on her to calm down enough to tell me who I needed to go beat the shit out of for making her cry wasn’t easy.”

“I'm not losing you again. You're with me. I want you there beside me. Always.”

“When I'm with you, my world is complete. When I touch you, I understand the meaning of life. When I lost you, I completely shattered. You. Own. Me.”

“I love you.” My heart almost stopped beating in my chest.She hadn’t spoken those words since the last time I held her in my arms.“And you did leave me. But... but you came back. No one’s ever come back. They leave me and that’s it. They want to leave me. You didn’t. And you came back.” I wanted to stand up and reach across the table and jerk her into my arms but I wasn’t sure I could stand up just yet. I needed to hear everything she had to say.“Yes, I came back. My heart never left you.”“I miss you.”This time I stood up and walked around the table.“I miss you. Every second of every day,” I whispered. Her eyes followed me until I was inches from her.“I trust you.”I needed more than that.“You trust me,” I repeated.She nodded and her hand came up and caressed the side of my arm.“I want to try again.”Those were the words I needed to hear.”

“I don’t think I’m making myself very clear Low,” he’d lowered his voice and the effect made goose bumps break out over my body. “I was only interested in one person at that bar last night. I only came to see one person,” he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and softly caressed my earlobe before tracing the line of my jaw. “I was there for you.”

“I needed to get out and my roomies had both left me for the night so I followed the pretty one here.” Did Marcus just call me pretty?”

“Did you just call me a hottie? And Jax isn’t better looking than me. He’s just famous.”Amanda let out a loud cackle of laughter.“No brother dear, Jax Stone is hotness incarnate with or without the guitar and sexy as hell singing voice. You never stood a chance. He was what you call playing with the big dogs. This time you’re definitely playing within your league.”

“That’s really sweet.”He grinned and reached for a plate.“Then I believe my mission is accomplished.” Laughing softly so I didn’t wake up Cage, I walked over and took the plate he was offering to me.”

“I don’t bite Marcus. You can come sit on the comfy old couch with me. That chair is incredibly uncomfortable.” Just the opening I needed. I jumped up and sat down on the end of the couch and stretched my legs out in front of me.“You don’t have to tell me twice. I was just being polite.” Will ow chuckled and brought a blanket over to the sofa with her.”

“I want to be with you.” My words brought a hugegrin to his incredibly beautiful face.“You’re my present and my future,Sadie, I willuse whatever power I have to make you happy.”He leaned down and touched his perfect lips to mine, and my heart took flight. I would never get tired of his kiss. Jax Stone was my everything.”

“I don’t want to love you,” I forced out through the thickness in my throat.“God, I hope you do, because you own me completely,” he whispered.”

“Calculus was not math. It was a fucking science experiment gone wrong.”

“Eres todo lo que escribo en mis canciones, pero nunca tengo”

“I got this." Dank Walker”

“I needed, I needed...you." "Don't tell me you need me." "But I can't help it. I do”

“You can speak, I said looking directly at him, I needed him to know I wasn’t afraid. I’d been dealing with wandering souls, which is what I like to think of them as, all my life. They didn’t frighten me but I liked to ignore them so they would go away. If they ever thought I could see them, they followed me. He continued to watch me with an amused expression on his face. I noticed his crooked grin produced a single dimple. The dimple didn’t seem to fit with his cold, arrogant demeanor. As much as his presence annoyed me, I couldn’t help but admit this soul could only be labeled as ridiculously gorgeous. Yes, I speak. Were you expecting me to be mute? I leaned my hip against the desk. Yes, as a matter of fact, I was. You’re the first one who has ever spoken to me. A frown creased his forehead. The first one? He appeared genuinely surprised he wasn’t the first dead person I could see. He was definitely the most unique soul I’d ever seen. Ignoring a soul who could talk was going to be”

“Daylight fades away as I watch you.Darkness claims the sky and I wish you knewthat nothing you can do can keep me from you.But I stay out of sight and only whisper to you.Words I can’t say. Words you don’t need to hear.Words I can’t keep from tangling my way.Now, I can’t stand alone.Now, I am under your influence.You’ve taken over me and Now, I can’t ignore what I’ve been shown.You’ve claimed me and I don’t care who knows.You’ve claimed me and I don’t care if it shows.I’m weakened and I’m strengthened in your arms.You’ve claimed me and I need to feel you close.”“You stand wanting more than you could ever understand. I stand helpless needing to give in to your every command.Wanting to see you smile has consumed me and tied both my hands.Nothing I offer could ever be worthy of your love.It’s a miracle that you saw me and never ran.I will spend my whole life trying to be the man you think I am. Now, I can’t stand alone. Now, I am under your influence.You’ve taken over me and Now, I can’t ignore what I’ve been shown.You’ve claimed me and I don’t care who knows.You’ve claimed me and I don’t care if it shows.I’m weakened and I’m strengthened in your arms.You’ve claimed me and I need to feel you close.”“You hold fire within your gaze. It mesmerizes everyone you allow into your maze.I know nothing of your thoughtsbut I need to bask within the warmth of your rays.Nothing you do could ever be wrong.You’re forever perfect in every way. Now, I can’t stand alone. Now, I am under your influence.You’ve taken over me and Now, I can’t ignore what I’ve been shown.You’ve claimed me and I don’t care who knows.You’ve claimed me and I don’t care if it shows.I’m weakened and I’m strengthened in your arms.You’ve claimed me and I need to feel you close.” ~ Dank”

“I perfected the art of being uninteresting.”

“I didn’t worry about leaving Jay with Pagan this time. I was surehe’d get the message when he read his ticket.After all when a guy reads,She’s mine. That’s your one and only warning.Dank WalkerHe knows if he isn’t ready for a fight he can’t win then he’d better back the fuck off.”

“no one expected the preacher's daughter to sin, but they sure would love to catch me at it,”

“I don’t want you to just be mytutor. I want you to be the girl I look for in the halls everymorning and save a seat for in the cafeteria. I want you to bethe one waiting for me when I walk off the field at my games.I want you to be the one I pick up the phone to call just tomake me smile.”

“Why couldn't I have just made it home without seeing them? I wasn't in the mood to play good freaking Samaritan to Beau and his trashy girlfriend.”

“Well, let's see, I found out Pagan has low blood sugar and becomes a complete b--witch if she doesn't eat a candy bar during a stressful moment.”

“Is this seat taken?" a warm sexy drawl asked and I lifted my gaze and smiled up at Dank."Yes. I'm saving it for my smoking hot boyfriend," I replied teasingly. Dank slid in beside me and put his arm around my shoulder. "Hmmm, well he should have gotten here sooner. You snooze, you lose.”

“What are you doing?""I'm going to enjoy a long overdue make-out session with my girl. That's what I'm doing." I explained, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me with one shove of my foot.”

“Yes, of course. I was on her like, um... I believe that old woman last week we took after she'd burnt down her house cooking said 'like white on rice',”

“I relaxed. “I would imagine in your world, girls are much different than here in the real world. I’m sure if you spent some time with the everyday girl, you would find I am not unique.”He grinned at me. “The everyday girl is who writes me fan mail and buys out my concerts. They are the girls who yell my name and run after me like crazed animals. You’ve not even tried to sneak into my room and squirt your perfume on my pillow.”

“I smiled and ran my hand through his dark curls. “So,Death, what do we do now?”

“I get to keep you,” he said, staring at me with anintensity that made me shiver.“Keep me?” I asked, reaching up to kiss his chin and trailkisses down his perfect neck.“Not here. I can’t take much more, Pagan. I’m only sostrong,” he said in a husky voice as he pulled me against hischest. “You’re mine now. While you walk the Earth youbelong to me. Nothing can hurt you.” I heard a touch ofhumor in his voice. “It’s pretty impossible to hurt what Deathprotects.”

“My beautiful soul,"he murmured and caressed my cheek."When you have the ultimate selfless sacrifice it paid my wrong.You proved to be worthy of my devotion.Of Death's...love.”

“You tempt me.I can't be tempted.I'm not made to be tempted,but you,Pagan Moore,you tempt me.From the moment i came for you i was drawn in.Everything about you.."One of his hands left my waist and moved up to gently caress my arm."You make me crazy with need.With want.I didn't understand it at first.But now i know.It's your soul calling to me.Souls mean nothing to me.They aren't supposed to.But yours has become my obsession.”

“I hate the color red almost as much as i hate blond hair,"he said with an amused tone.-Dank”