Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,20
quesadilla filling, oblivious to our conversation.
“I explained this to you in the car.” I took his hand and moved us to the other side of the island. “This is my chance to learn more about the Sallys, Leighton, and how she dug up all that dirt on us. From what I’ve heard, they’ve been doing their little cult initiation to the new sisters for years. The president finds out all their secrets somehow, and if I’m president, I can discover who passes it on.” I peeked at Adam, lowering my voice. “It might be the people Leighton called that night. Her friends.”
Jaxson grasped my chin and gently turned me to face him. “Your plan is to take the head psycho’s place, so the mysterious people who covered up a murder for her will seek you out. Baby, if this Leighton girl is still alive, don’t you think she’d warn them about you and your possible ulterior motives?”
My jaw worked. That’s a good point.
“It’s still a win if she does,” I settled on. “I’m not doing that initiation to pledges and if no one comes to me and reveals the supposed secrets of Zeta Rho, the girls can have a safe, normal year. It’s worth it to protect my friends.”
“How will you have time for any of that, Val?”
I pressed my cheek to his chest, listening to his heart beat beneath my ear. “I’ll make time.”
“Mommy, I’m finished.”
When I faced my son, my smile was firmly in place. “Perfect, baby. Now Jaxson will melt the cheese and make us some yumminess.”
The Sallys, Sams, and implications for the coming year haunted us like a specter, demanding we finish our argument. We ignored it and focused our night on reclaiming weeks of quality time for the three of us.
Jaxson danced in front of the stove, throwing cheese, beans, tomato, and corn in the pan like a magician performing a trick. Adam sat on the countertop, laughing his head off while I rested my chin on his shoulder, not holding back my chuckles as well.
We wanted it to be the three of us, but at some point, Ryder, Maverick, and Ezra strolled in, enjoying the show. Ezra whipped up a salad, Maverick poured drinks, and Ryder set the table for four, not six.
“Good night, Adam.” I dropped a kiss on his forehead. “Be good for your daddies, and go to bed on time.”
“Nite, Mommy.”
Jaxson picked up our food in one hand and held mine with the other. We walked upstairs, drifting closer with every step.
“It’s not the most romantic meal,” he said. “But I promise the rest of the night will be.”
I nipped his shoulder. “What are you talking about? The food is perfect. Making it together was perfect. The entire day has been perfect.”
“You should expect more of me, Valentina,” he whispered. “Because you deserve more. You deserve the world.”
Stopping in front of our bedroom, I rose on tiptoe and brushed my lips on his scruffy jawline. The rough, prickling sensation the opposite of my smooth gentle touch. That’s what Jaxson and I were: opposites.
He was passion, spontaneity, living in the moment, and worrying about consequences later. I was planning, caution, and thinking about every step before I made it. I shouldn’t have fallen for the brash, arrogant jerk who claimed me his the second he met me, but here we were.
“I don’t want the world, Jaxson Van Zandt. I want you.”
Jaxson moved, pressing me back into our bedroom. Eagerness hummed through my veins, making my knees shake. I lost count of how many times we’d been together, and yet nerves still fluttered in my stomach every time.
He led me to the bed, gifted me a teasing kiss, and then went to work setting up our dinner.
The staff put a small table for two in our bedroom due to his crazy schedule. Easier to bring up a tray for him to get to when he could than to hope he’d make it to the dining room. I thought of that as he set the table and lit candles.
“Is it okay that you took the day off?”
“Define okay,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m a grunt working a simple position in A and R but I’m gone one day and they act like the place will collapse without me.” He stopped to look at me. “But I’d rather be with you.”
I lay on my back, peering at him through my lashes. “Is it your boss having a meltdown... or Serena Blackwood?”