Chapter Eight
Jax
"What the fuck?" I growl, glaring at the Bentley pulled up outside of Jessa's apartment.
"What?" she says from the passenger seat, looking around. Her gaze lands on the Bentley, her brows furrowing. "Who is it, Jax?"
"Fox," I mutter, pulling the Sian into her spot since her car is still at the hotel. I planned to drop her off there after she packs enough shit to stay the weekend with me. She has classes until three today and works tonight and tomorrow night. But I still have my apartment here. We're staying there. If I have my way, she'll be living with me there until she graduates.
She already agreed to move into the mansion when she comes to Nashville. If Gwen doesn't want to live alone in Nashville, she can come too. The house is big enough for her…though I have a feeling that won't be necessary.
Cyrus and Gwen are both radio silent. Jessa and I both suspect that's because they're together. Cyrus isn't the type of man who gives up easily. I'm guessing he's got Gwen locked up at his place, refusing to let her leave until she hears him out. Either that, or she's busy hiding his body.
"Fox?" Jessa asks. "DEFCON Billionaire Fox?"
"Daniel Fox." I exhale a frustrated breath, pretty sure he has me microchipped with a Lo-Jack. Doesn't matter where I go, he seems to find me if anything out of the ordinary pops up. His definition of emergency and mine are two entirely different things. But as much as I hate to admit it, the things he hunts me down to tell me in person are usually important.
"He knows where I live?" Jessa asks, curiosity sparking in her eyes. She looks beautiful in her blue pencil skirt and cream top. Her hair is pinned back at the nape of her neck. If she's wearing makeup, I can't tell. She's fresh-faced and innocent, too damn sweet for words. There's a contented gleam in her blue eyes this morning, one that seems soul deep.
I know exactly how she feels. For the first time ever, I feel settled, at ease.
Letting her out of bed this morning wasn't easy. I know she's tired. I couldn't keep my hands off her or my dick out of her last night. We made love four times. She has to be sore, but she keeps saying she's fine. Which is a hell of a relief because I already know I'll be in her again by morning.
For four years, I've lived without being able to touch her, kiss her, or make love to her. Every time I looked at her, I wanted to shout from the rooftops that she was mine but couldn't. Those rules no longer apply. I can put my hands on her beautiful body whenever I want.
Nothing has ever felt as good, looked as good, smelled as good, or sounded as good as she does when I'm inside her. Not even my most elaborate fantasies did her justice. Nothing compares to Jessa. She's soft and sweet everywhere.
"Jax? He knows about me?"
"He knows about you," I murmur. Fox is…Fox. He's one of the only people at Concord I trust. He's fussy and obsessive and drives me up the wall. But he's probably better qualified to run the company than I am. He knows everything that happens.
I asked him once why he cared so much.
His fiancée died in a car accident a dozen years ago. He never got over him. So he pours his soul into Concord. I can respect that. God knows, even when I thought I couldn't have Jessa, every part of me still belonged to her. Being a SEAL gave me something to focus on when I thought not having her would kill me. Without that, I'm not sure what the last four years would have been like.
I don't know how Concord felt about my mom or why he never married after he walked out on us, but I know he didn't love her. If he had, he never would have left her. Whatever was between them…maybe one day I'll know the truth. Maybe I'll never know. All I know for sure is that not even hell itself could drag me away from Jessa now.
When she has our kids, nothing could drag me away from them either. I figure that already makes me a better father than the one I had. I'll learn the rest from loving Jessa and letting her love me. She'll guide me. She's my northern star, my rabbit…my soul.
"Come on. Let's go see what fresh hospitality hell awaits me."
Her soft laughter burbles out, soothing the edges of my irritation at Fox. It's impossible to feel anything less than sheer bliss now that she's got my ring on her finger, my marks on her body, and my seed in her belly. As far as I'm concerned, nothing else matters.
I hop out of the car and circle around to open her door for her. She flashes me a big smile, slipping her hand into mine. I pull her out of the car and then kiss her just because I can.
It's barely even light outside, but a few people are up and moving. A blonde woman glances our way and then smiles before hurrying toward her car. A couple on the far side of the parking lot stop to gape at the car. The others plod wearily toward their vehicles, heads down and coffee mugs in hand. Most everyone here attends college at UTC with Jessa and Gwen.
Daniel's waiting at the top of the stairs, dressed as impeccably as ever in his customary three-piece and colorful tie. His blond hair is combed over. He's short and stocky, with a crooked nose and icy blue eyes.
"Fox," I mutter.
"Sir," he says, running his eyes over Jessa. Even though he's gay and still hung up on his dead fiancée, I still pull her closer to me. He sees the ring on her finger and his upper lip curves into a tiny smile. "Miss Jordan, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Jessa, this is Daniel Fox. Fox, this is my fiancé."
"Congratulations," he says, giving us both a genuinely warm smile.
"Thank you," she says, offering him a sweet smile in return. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
"Only the good parts are true," Daniel says, making her laugh. His eyes come to me, his expression sobering. "I have some news for you."
"Um, should I go on in?" Jessa asks, fidgeting like she's worried she shouldn't hear whatever he came to tell me.
"You can stay, rabbit. No secrets, remember?" I press my lips to her temple, meeting Daniel's gaze over her head. Whatever he says to me, he can say to her. I won't have her feeling like she's not welcome or trusted, not by anyone.
He nods, reading between the lines. I expected nothing less from him. "This actually involves you too, Miss Jordan."
"Oh." Her brows furrow, her nose wrinkling.
"Several people saw the two of you together yesterday evening. There's been…speculation," he says, choosing his words carefully.
"Oh," Jessa whispers. "That was fast."