Careless (Enemies to Lovers 3)

Her eyes soften until they look bruised, and I hate that she’s still hurting.

“Just before you got to my place, my mom had called Logan. I refuse to take any of her calls. She… let’s just say she wasn’t the best mother. Every time she calls…” I shake my head and take a deep breath to control the anger that’s always threatening to rise to the surface when I think of that woman. “I can’t think of her and not get angry.”

Leigh’s body relaxes into the chair as she places her other hand over the back of mine.

Thank God. She’s listening to me.

“I was drowning in anger when you got there. Then I saw how upset you were and fuck… I swear I could feel your pain. If we had just hate-fucked, I would definitely be on my knees right now, begging your forgiveness for making a shitty situation so much worse. But what happened between us that night—you were my first in so many ways.”

She tilts her head and gives me a look which clearly says she thinks I’m talking shit.

“Willow told me about the screw crew list, Jaxson. I was definitely not your first.”

I turn my body towards her and placing my left arm on the table, I lean closer to her. The sweet scent of her perfume makes me inhale deeper.

Fuck, I’ve missed the smell of her.

“You’re the only woman I’ve kissed, Doc.”

I let the information sink in and watch her lips part on a silent gasp.

“Why?” she whispers.

“You’re different from any other woman I’ve ever met. With you, it felt right.”

“You’re also the only woman I’ve made love to. Every time I try with someone else, I see you. I’ve tried and… I can’t.”

Hurt flickers in her eyes when she says, “You’ve tried?”

This part of the conversation sucks. Fuck, I wish I could just skip it.

“I’ve tried and failed quite a few times.”

She lets out a shaky breath. “What does that have to do with me?”

My eyes trail over her face, taking in her soft skin and those eyes… fuck, those eyes. I can see my future in them.

“Everything. It has everything to do with you, and that’s why I want to get to know you.”

She shakes her head and looks down at our joined hands.

“It was just sex, Jaxson.”

I take hold of he

r chin and turn her face back to mine.

“You’re not a liar, Doc. We both know it wasn’t just sex.”

When she doesn’t admit it, I let go of her chin and move my hand to her neck. I brush my fingers over her sensitive skin and watch as goosebumps appear.

I wait her out as she reacts to my touch. I need to hear it from her.

“It’s nothing but a physical reaction. It doesn’t mean anything,” she argues.

I lean into her and press my mouth to her ear. “What about the fluttering in your stomach?”

She quickly places a hand over her middle as if she can hide it from me that way.