Page 71 of True Abandon

“Sure.” I stand and follow him just a few feet away. I stick my hands in my back pockets. “What’s up?”

He looks at Jax. “I thought you didn’t date.”

I lean in to Kal and speak low. “We’re not dating. We’re just friends.”

He scratches his head. “You were torturing him two days ago and now you’re sharing a beer.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Yeah. I see that.” With a slight nod, he gives me a crooked smile. “Just be careful, okay? You’re a good girl—we want you to be happy.”

“Thanks, Kal. That’s…really sweet of you.”

He walks away, so I resume my seat beside Jax who is looking at me, pensively.

“How’s the burn?” Isaiah’s question gets Jax’s attention.

“Pretty good. Trish brought me some lotion, and I didn’t feel a thing.”

“My Tutu made it,” Lani chimes in as she takes a seat on the sand. Jason sits behind her, and Lani leans into his chest with her long, slender legs stretched out. “She won’t tell anyone what’s in it though.”

“Thank her for me.” Jax tilts his beer toward Lani.

“Will do.” Lani grins. “Trish takes hula lessons from her.”

“You know how to hula?” He’s looking at me, and it’s hard not to notice the way his teeth skim his lower lip.

“Just a little.” I take a long drink and stare at the bonfire—a large hole in the sand with a fire sitting in the center. I stare at the flames burning strong as his body inches just a whisper closer to me.

My eyes glance at the square of his jaw and follow to the contour of his cheeks and the outline of his lips. They’re poised, completely intrigued. I try to look away but I don’t know which fire I’m more drawn to – the one in the sand or the one burning in the man sitting next to me.

Kelli makes a loud noise, drawing attention to herself as she sits beside Lani and Jason. I take another sip knowing I may need a good buzz to deal with her when she realizes who Jax is.

“I saw you had all these tattoos,” Isaiah says to Jax. “What’s up with the dragon?”

“It represents the best and worst of humanity.” Jax taps his beer and grimaces. “Best and worst of me. We all have two sides of the conscience on our shoulder. Mine is—”

“Climbing over your shoulder and breathing fire onto your heart.” I finish his sentence.

He jerks his head back and gives me a dazed look.

“What about the elephant?” Lani points to his shoulder. “Is that a never forget thing?”

Jax gapes at me with an incredulous stare as he answers, “The dragon is the evil, and the elephant is the reminder of what was good.”

My mouth parts, with a small gasp, at his words. I swallow as I feel the heat of the fire radiating off his skin and shooting straight to my heart.

His chocolate eyes are melting as they gaze into me with a look so sincere and determined, I may melt along with him.

We’re sitting side by side, but the moment feels more intimate. Like any second our souls will collide if I don’t douse myself in the ocean.

“What about da eye?” Benji chimes in. His Pigeon accent breaking the brief moment Jax and I shared. “It’s kinda sexy.”

“My body is a shrine to one woman,” he replies. He holds out his arm and shows it to the crowd. “She has the most magnificent eyes. I dream about them.” His gaze holds mine, and I stop breathing. “Her mouth is on my ribs, and her profile is on my hip.”

He’s now focused on my mouth. I bite my lower lip in a nervous response and stare at his. I remember the way they felt when we kissed—soft, yet powerful.

“Damn man, that’s love,” Jason chimes in. “You’re making me look bad.” He leans forward and snuggles Lani whose interest is beyond piqued.