“No, for these I stay the whole time. As long as they’re wearing the dress and want me there, I’m there for any unforeseen disaster—lost bead, loose button, torn train, etcetera. ”
“So, like for the ceremony and the reception? Shit. That’s going to last for days. ”
She grinned. “I’m not on loan for days. But, yes, her father spent over two hundred thousand dollars in my shop, so I’ll be at their beck and call from sunup to sundown on Saturday.
“Two hundred grand? For what?”
That made her laugh again. “Jessie’s dress, her bridesmaids’ dresses—there are twelve—the flower girls’ dresses—there are eight, and Jessie’s mother’s dress. ”
“How long does it take to make all those dresses?”
“Only Jessie’s is haute couture. But the rest are couture, so I’ve had my hands on all of them. And I’ve been working on them for six months. ”
“Jesus, that’s crazy. ” Jax put a hand to his forehead. “It would be totally selfish of me to ask if I can sneak some time in with you Saturday night, wouldn’t it. You’ll be exhausted. ”
“How about this,” she said, then pressed her mouth to his belly. Closed her fingers gently around his erection, making Jax groan. “I’ll keep you up tonight, and you can keep me up Saturday night. Because I realize I still haven’t licked your tattoo. ”
She kissed her way up to his nipple, sucked it into her mouth, nibbled until he moaned, then soothed it with her tongue.
“That’s not my tattoo,” he teased.
“I’m getting there. You’re just so…yummy. I have to taste everything along the way. ”
Jax lifted her mouth from his skin even though he didn’t want to. She smiled up at him, but the grin dimmed after she scanned his face. He must have looked as serious as he felt.
“You know,” he said, “I’d never hurt you, right?”
Her brow pulled. “What do you—”
“Like that other guy. I know how hard it is to get where you are, baby. I’d never try to take that. ”
Turbulence deepened her eyes to a smoky blue, but she nodded. “I know you’re not the same kind of man, Jax. But I also know there’s a lot more to you than I know. Things…I don’t think I’m ready to hear. ”
He stroked her face. “Why?”
She turned her head and kissed his hand. “Because it will require some big leaps for me. And I’m trying to get comfortable with the ones I’ve already made. ”
He nodded but still feared he’d be asking her to jump right into the fire if he told her everything. Was almost sure he’d lose her.
She lowered her head and let her tongue follow the lines of his inked tribal pattern over the corner of his chest, over his shoulder. He’d figure it out. A couple of days away from her to think would be good, because he couldn’t think of anything when she was near. Nothing but her. And how good he felt. How important he felt. How loved he felt.
Jax cupped the backs of her thighs, slid his hands up to her cheeks. Squeezed. Her teeth closed on his skin. Lust made his cock jump, and the shaft hit her thigh where she had it between his legs.
“Lexi…” He moaned her name, a sudden need to be inside her making him crazy again.
But when he tried to pull her hips over his, she climbed off him and pushed at his shoulder. “Roll over. There’s more on the back. ”
He obeyed, relaxing into the bed. Her hands roamed his skin.
“God, you’re just beautiful,” she murmured.
He chuckled. “Never been accused of that before. ”
Her fingers hit a sore spot near his shoulder blade, and his muscles jerked.
“You’re all knotted up again,” she said. “I put a lot of effort into getting those out last month. ”
“Yes…” The feel of her tongue sliding over his skin teased his cock harder. The thought of her hands kneading out the discomfort in his muscles in New York spread liquid fire through his hips. “That you did, baby. ”