Jax (Broken Strings #1) by Cherry Shephard Read Free Book Online Page A

sleep out of his eyes.
    “Look, I don’t care who you want to fuck,” she began, her eyes flashing angrily. “But we have been waiting for you on that damn bus for the last four hours. So wake her up and let’s go!”
    She turned and stormed away before he could say anything.
     
    Closing the door, he leaned against it and rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in so late. He looked over to the bed where Amaranth still slept. He could watch her all day, but Tessa was right – they had to go.
    Crossing the floor, he stopped above her and quietly called her name.
    “Amaranth?” he said, gently shaking her shoulder. “Come on babe, you gotta get up.”
    She groaned and rolled to her back, her eyelids slowly flickering open.
    “Morning,” she said with a smile, stretching on the bed like a cat.
    Jax felt the familiar pull of his cock, and fought against the urge to take her right there and then.
    “Come on,” he said gruffly, pulling on his jeans. “We have to go.”
    Amaranth slowly sat up, her hair in a mess and her eyes slightly swollen. “Is everything alright?” she asked, watching as he stood and fixed his hair in the mirror next to the bed.
    Jax sighed and dropped his arms, turning to face her.
    “No, it’s not,” he said with a small smile. “We should have been on the road four hours ago, Tessa’s pissed.”
    Amaranth hopped out of the bed and straightened her clothes, eyeing Jax as he pulled on his shoes.
    “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to sleep in, it’s just that the bed was so comfortable, and it’s the first one I’ve slept on in months and-”
    “Forget it,” Jax said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
    But something she said stuck with him, and he looked at her, puzzled.
    “What the hell do you mean, this is your first time on a bed in months. Where do you live?”
    Amaranth looked at him, her mouth hanging slightly open as she appeared to realize that she’d told him more than she’d planned to.
    “Well?” he thundered.
    She didn’t answer, pursing her lips together and turning her head away from him.
    He wasn’t in the mood for that game.
     
    Stalking over to her, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard. “Amaranth! What the fuck is going on?” he demanded, noting the way that she flinched.
    He backed away, running his hands through his hair.
    She glared at him, crossing her arms over her breasts.
    “I live on the fucking streets, okay?” she cried, angry tears coursing from her eyes. “Is that what you wanted to know? I earn a living by taking my clothes off. Does that make you happy?”
    “Amaranth, I-” Jax began, reaching for her.
    “No, don’t,” she said, pulling away from him, her eyes blazing. “We have to go, remember? They’re waiting for us.”
     
    She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door closed behind her.
    Jax slumped against the wall and ran his hands over his face.
    Amaranth was homeless? He’d had no idea. How long had she been living this way, where did she sleep each night?
    Something snapped inside of him and he kicked over the small table next to the door, sending the glass vase on top of it smashing to the floor.
    He moved to the bed and pulled on his shoes. His heart was breaking for her, he had to do something… but what could he do? Amaranth clearly had no intention of accepting his help, she was too proud, too stubborn.
    His shoes on, he stood and pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. Withdrawing a fifty dollar note, he tucked it under the lamp on the bedside table. He wasn’t sure if it’d be enough to  repair the damage he’d caused in his moment of blind anger, but it would have to do. He’d make sure Tobey checked later.
     
    Leaving the room, he took his key back to the reception. The blonde wasn’t on the desk this time and he got through quickly with no trouble. He didn’t mention the mess he’d left behind.
    Putting his