Torn by A.F. Crowell Page A

relationship with Leila. This whole being there every time
I turned around was going to end, and fast.
    Arriving home and seeing boxes and Lei’s
suitcase in the foyer was a game changer. It renewed my fight. I
knew that even though she was home, we had things to fix and work
on. My confession at the hospital only opened up more questions. I
needed to get with Viper and find out what was going down right
now.
    Drill had thought he was in the clear since
the shootout, but the minute I had enough evidence I was pulling
the trigger, so to speak. Drill’s days were numbered. I had to make
sure he didn’t suspect that I knew what he was up to. Over the last
few weeks I’d seen just how lethal this fucker could be. He had to
fucking go.
    Mark was another story. He and I had gotten
close over the last few years. And while I didn’t agree with or
condone his participation in the pipeline, I understood why he did
it. As president of the club, he inherited the prior president’s
fuck-ups. Mark inherited his predecessor’s agreement to protect
shipments from border to border for a Mexican cartel. These were
not the people you said, “I quit” to. It wasn’t that easy.
    An hour of my parents fussin’ at me, loading
groceries into the pantry, and making sure Leila’s things made it
up to our room exhausted the fuck outta me.
    Sitting in the living room watching TV, deep
in thought, I didn’t notice Leila come in the room.
    “Huh, what?” I asked.
    “I said, are you hungry? Do you want me to
cook dinner now? I know it’s early but I thought you might like a
home-cooked meal. God only knows what you’ve been eating.” She
stood behind the couch with her hand on her hip, looking sexier
than ever.
    “There’s only one thing I’m hungry for and I
don’t think you’re gonna give it to me.” My dick hardened, my veins
swirling with lust.
    “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Jaxon. You’ve been
home less than two hours and are recovering from freakin’ multiple
GSWs. Keep it in your pants, big man, we got plenty of time for the
dirty things you want to do.” She rolled her eyes, shook her head,
and spun on her heel. I watched that tight, delectable ass sashay
all the way down the hall. “And stop staring at my ass. I can feel
you eye fucking me from here.”
    “I wouldn’t be eye fuckin’ ya if you’d bring
that sweet ass in here.” I tried my best to provoke a response. I
knew I could get my way if she just let me try.
    “Nice try,” she hollered from the kitchen. “I
know what you’re doing and it ain’t working.”
    “We’ll see about that,” I muttered
confidently to myself.
    *****
    Leila
    Jesus, that man is
incorrigible. Here, I just moved back in and he was already trying
to fuck me into next week. And truth be told, if he wasn’t
recovering from two gunshot wounds, I’d probably let
him.
    My mouth watered at the thought of him
between my legs. I was so turned on by the thought of him and his
talented body, a soft moan escaped my lips.
    “Is that so?” Jaxon leaned on the stainless
steel refrigerator.
    Jumping, I dropped the knife in my hand and
clutched my chest. “Fuck, you scared me. Stop sneaking up on me. I
swear I’m going to put bells on you.”
    “What was all that moanin’ about?” Grinning,
he came around the island toward me.
    Quickly, I retrieved the chopping knife and
pretended to be ready defend myself. “Oh no, get back. You stay
away from me. I’m cooking dinner. Take you and your grabby hands
back to the living room. You’re up to no good.”
    “Who me? Nah, I just thought I’d come see if
I could help you.” He pretended to want to be helpful, but I knew
better.
    “I call bullshit. You wanted to come in here
and try to entice me into forgetting that Drake said to wait
another week before having sex or exerting yourself.” I cocked my
head and pursed my lips.
    “I feel fine, maybe we should just try it out
and see.”
    “No, you big hornball, go away so I can