Beautifully Shattered (The Beautifully Series Book 1) by Courtney Kristel Read Free Book Online Page A

appearance as if
he just realized the same thing I did. His eyes change from playful
to hunger. It’s all consuming, he’s all consuming. That pull
surrounds us, so thick I can almost taste it.
    Suddenly I am no longer
freezing. I’m shaking, but it’s not from the cold. When he sees
me shiver, he places the shower head back and turns the water hot. I
slowly slide down his body when he unwraps his arms around me. His
hands go to my hips to steady me while I stand on one leg. He is so
close to me that my breasts press into his hard chest.
    Hot water pours over
the both of us, as steam fills the air. I hold my breath . . .
neither of us makes a move. He watches me, waiting, his eyes locked
onto mine. Devour me, Jax. With
such slowness that he’s barely moving, Jax lifts one hand from my
hip to my face, and traces my jawline back and forth with his
fingertip.
    “Ads.” Jax uses his
nickname for me as if it’s the most pleasant name he’s ever
uttered, but I can still hear the pain laced in his voice.
    I notice the abrupt
change in the air around us and in him. He’s no longer looking at
me with such hunger that I can taste his need. He’s now the
tortured man that always stops us from being together again. I know
that this is over.
    “Use me to support
your weight so you can get out of your clothes and finish your shower
while I bring your crutches in. I’ll help you out when you’re
done.”
    With the moment long
gone, he turns his head away from me. As fast as I can manage, I
strip out of my clothes and once Jax is sure that I don’t need any
further assistance, he steps out of the shower and grabs a towel. I
don’t attempt to stop him as he leaves.

Chapter Three
    Glancing around my
abundant closet, I finger the hanger holding my work clothes. I shake
my head while I think of all the reasons it’s a bad idea. Jax will
be pissed, he’ll tell Logan . . . I can’t think of anything else.
Two, just two reasons why I shouldn’t pull the red shirt that has Sweet Tooth embroidered over the right breast off its hanger. Thinking about
sitting on the couch next to him, wanting him but knowing he will
never give into us again, is too much. I smile wickedly as I drop the
towel. I don’t need a babysitter. Jax can be mad all he likes.
    After getting dressed
as quickly as possible, I hobble back to my bed to retrieve my phone
only to realize that it’s still in the living room. So much for
sneaking out of here to decorate cakes. I huff in exasperation. This
isn’t going to go over well at all.
    He seems to have no
care in the world as he reads something on his iPad. He hears me,
it’s impossible not to with my wood floors, but he ignores me.
Good. Hopefully I can swipe my phone off the table and leave before
he notices. I bite my lip as I try to bend down for my phone. I avoid
him entirely as I straighten back up. As I turn around to leave, I
exhale.
    “You don’t think
you’re going to work do you?” he asks, startling me. “I already
called in for you.”
    I glare over my
shoulder at him. “Last time I checked, you’re not my father and
I’m a big girl. I don’t want nor need you calling into work for
me.”
    He shrugs. “Either
way, you’re not going in.”
    “Watch me.”
    I don’t even make it
a step before he’s behind me. He runs his nose through my wet hair
and speaks so close to my ear that his lips brush against my skin.
“You know I can’t let you go.”
    Right. Because of
Logan. “Well, tell my dear brother that I’ll be fine doing
nothing but decorating.” I turn my head so my nose nearly touches
his. “My butt will be firmly attached to the stool the entire
time.”
    “No.”
    The way he says it
leaves no room for discussion. This new feisty person I woke up to is
steaming. I will not be told no by Jaxon Chandler anymore. I’ve
heard that word from him one too many times.
    I open my mouth to tell
him exactly that, but he’s already sitting on the couch again. What
a jerk! He