Always (New Adult Erotic Romance) (The Tryst Series #3) by Marie York Read Free Book Online Page A

that Jaxon felt the need to always remind me of it, making me feel like I brought it on myself, and was incapable of taking care of the situation.
    I had been on my own since I was eighteen. Handling things, dealing with whatever life decided to throw at me, and to think that, for even a moment, he saw me as weak hurt far worse than anything that guy did tonight.
    I didn’t want to watch any more of it. I had enough. I stormed off, needing a minute to myself.
    “Are you okay?” Tara asked, holding my shoulders, and looking at me like a wounded puppy.
    “I’m fine. I just need a minute.” I forced a smile, and headed to the stairs. It was the only place I could go to get away.
    I was just outside Jaxon’s office when I heard footsteps behind me. I spun to find him coming toward me.
    “Did he hurt you?” he asked, reaching out to me, but I avoided his touch.
    “No. He didn’t. And just so you know, I’m not some damsel in distress that needs you to swoop in and rescue me. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. You didn’t even give me a chance to.”
    “That guy was pawing you. What was I supposed to do? Sit back, fucking watch, and wait to see if you had it under control? Fuck that.”
    “Of course not. Instead, you just storm over and practically break that guy’s wrist.”
    “He’s lucky I didn’t break his fucking face.”
    “You didn’t have to…” A big messy ball of mixed emotions clogged my throat, and my words faltered.
    He ran his hands through his hair, the veins in his arms pulsing against hit taut skin. “Are you seriously defending him right now?”
    I threw my arms in the air. “No. I’m just saying that you always jump in, and you make me feel weak. Like you think I’m incapable or something.” I turned away from him, pacing back and forth. “I don’t even know.”
    Jaxon took my hand, pulling me to him, and squeezed it. “Hey, look at me.”
    I glanced up into his beautiful dark eyes. They were soft and kind, and had a way of turning the anger inside of me into unyielding desire.
    “You are not weak. And I definitely do not think you’re incapable. You just have to understand it from my side. Seeing you in any discomfort, watching some asshole trying to take advantage of you, sets this crazy fire inside of me that I can’t control. It takes over, and I can’t sit back and not do something. I don’t want anyone hurting you, or even touching you.” He dragged the tips of his fingers down the curve of my face, and looked deep into my eyes. “Because the only person I want touching you is me.”
    I drew in a surprised breath at his confession. I finally asked what I’d been wanting to since the minute I walked into his bar. “Then, why’d you leave me?”
    His eyebrows turned down, confusion running rapid in his eyes. “What are you talking about? I didn’t. You left me.”
    “No, you did. I woke up in that hotel room, and you were gone. I felt like my heart was torn out of my chest. You promised, and then you broke your promise.”
    He shook his head. “No. I didn’t.”
    “Yes, you did,” I yelled, all patience gone.
    “No.” He reached into his pocket, and pulled out his wallet. I watched him curiously as he opened it, and then he handed me a folded piece of paper.
    I took the paper and unfolded it. My breath caught in my throat as I read the words.
    Went to get coffee. You looked too peaceful to wake. As promised, I’ll be back to say goodbye. There’s just one problem. I don’t want it to be goodbye.
    Jax
    “What? No. I…” Confusion swirled in my head, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around this new revelation. “You…you never left me?”
    “Fucking Gary called, and I had to come here. I left a note, so you’d know I’d be back. But, when I got back, you were gone. I thought you did it on purpose.”
    “No, I didn’t. I wouldn’t. I thought…I never saw the note.”
    “You mean to tell me this whole time…”
    Jaxon didn’t finish