Reckless by Priscilla West

  "I'm fine, I was worried when you weren't there when I woke up."

  Jax was so sweet; he must've thought I was still feeling bad about Connor. "Aw, sorry, I didn't know when you'd wake up so I came to check this place out. Isn’t it wild? I’m loving this whole pirate theme. Arrr!"

  He looked around, as if suddenly noticing we were in a water park and then returned his sight to me. "Good. If you like it, I’m all for it."

  Even though his face had softened, I could sense an uncertainty in his voice. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

  "No . . . I just wanted to make sure you’re safe."

  "How can I not be safe when I've got you as my personal bodyguard?" I asked with a big smile, swooning over Jax's concern for my safety. "The rest of the band and I are having a water gun fight. Care to join us?"

  Crossing his arms, he squinted in the sunlight. "Now that I know you're fine, I think I'm just gonna go back to the bus and write."

  My turn in line came up. I was impressed with their selection, and I ended up outfitting myself with two high-powered pistols that came with extra clips that I tucked into my bikini bottoms. "Oh, quit being such a party pooper. It'll be fun."

  He shook his head slightly. "I’m not really in the mood."

  I could tell he needed to have some fun too. "Guess I'll just have to get you in the mood." Inspired by our Wild West horseback riding trip, I brought up my pistols in a quickdraw motion and squirted Jax in the chest.

  He casually looked down at the big wet spot on his chest then lifted his eyes back to me, a grin slowly spreading over his lips. "You're asking for trouble."

  Seeing his expression lighten, I closed one eye, took careful aim, and fired a round at his stone abs. "Bullseye," I said with satisfaction as the contours of his six pack appeared through the wet cotton.

  He pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it aside, baring the ink on his chiseled torso. With a twinkle in his dark eyes, he said, "Okay, now I can't be held responsible for my actions."

  "Should I be worried about that?" I asked playfully. But with his shirt off, I didn’t know if I could be held responsible for my actions either.

  "Depends. But first I'd better arm myself." He turned to the water gun vendor and picked out two double barrel water guns. He bent his arms and held up the guns, framing his face with them. "Gotta make sure I've got enough firepower."

  "Looks like you've got more than enough firepower right there," I said, pointing to his biceps. I was tempted to give them a firm squeeze, but I restrained myself, wary that the band might see me feeling him up.

  We moved away from the stand and headed back toward the band as Jax said, "You know that was a risky move soaking me back there."

  "Oh yeah?" My brow lifted. "Does that mean you're going to punish with me a spanking now?"

  "It’s a very real possibility," he said, low and guttural, making me bite my lip at the sound of his voice.

  "Well, I don't think I did anything wrong." I flipped my hair behind my ear. "You can't come into a water park and not expect to get wet."

  "I don't see that as one the water park rules," he said, pointing with his gun at one of the many signs posted throughout the park.

  "It's an unwritten rule." I playfully shoved his arm. "Besides I could tell you needed someone to cheer you up. And I figured I owed you since you were sweet enough to cheer me up yesterday."

  He stopped and his penetrating gaze sought out my eyes, sending a flutter through my stomach. "Guess that means I owe you one now too." He lowered his face and brought his lips to mine. The slightest brush of his lips sent a tingle sizzling straight down to my curled toes and I had an overwhelming urge to reach out and wrap my arms around him. But instead I pulled away.

  I looked at him with wide eyes. "What are you doing, Jax?"

  "I’m kissing you, what does it look like I’m doing?" he asked with a confused look on his face.

  "Just . . . can we keep the PDA under wraps until we get a better sense of the band's feelings on this? Can you do this for me?"

  His lips curved downward and he furrowed his brow pensively. But then his face relaxed and gave a mischievous smile. "Whatever you say Pepper, but you know that's going to be hard, since I want you constantly."

  I could see he didn't like it, but I was happy that he listened and was willing to do something he didn’t want to do. I smiled. "Save it for later, Stud. And thanks for understanding."

  As I walked alongside Jax, I couldn't help but notice women turning their heads to stare at us. Or more specifically, turning to stare at Jax's taut, ripped body. They lowered their shades, licked their lips, peeked out from behind magazines, and fanned themselves with those magazines. A sudden self-consciousness arose in me over how I stacked up in Jax’s mind next to these tanned and fit women openly flaunting their bodies and flirting.

  From out of nowhere, a tanned and pretty brunette in a designer bikini stepped in front of Jax. "Oh my god, it is you! You're Jax Trenton! I'm your biggest fan! Would you take a selfie with me? Pretty please?"

  I could sense Jax's lack of enthusiasm at the proposal, but he nodded and posed with the lady as she snapped a selfie with him and bounced away, obviously ecstatic. As I kept walking side-by-side with Jax, I realized that these women openly ogling his glistening body wanted my man. And Jax didn't want any of them—he wanted me. I threw back my shoulders and stuck out my chin proudly. Keep dreaming ladies.

  The band came into sight, and I tried to bury the thought that them seeing Jax and me together would raise some questions in their minds. When we came up to them, I forced a smile and said, "Look who found me . . . "

  Chewie groaned. "Oh great."

  "What’s wrong?" I asked.

  "Now the teams are gonna be all lopsided," Chewie said, his mouth wrinkled.

  "Well," Kev said with his hand on his chin. "Me and Chewie are like sharpshooters, Sky not so much. I haven’t seen Jax play, but he’s good at everything so I’m sure he’s skilled. And Riley, you claim to be this Duck Hunt-trained master shot—"

  "Damn straight," I chimed in.

  "So how about us three," Kev pointed to himself, Chewie, and Sky, "versus you two."

  "We’ve got more guns though," I said, noting how Jax and I were each dual-wielding. "We’ve got the advantage."

  "Yeah, but we’ve got a secret weapon that you guys don’t."

  "And what’s that? A hidden stash of water balloons?" I asked, spinning the water pistols on my fingers.

  "It’s a little thing called ‘chemistry’," Kev said, blowing on his knuckles. "We work together like lions in a pride. You and Jax are lone wolves."

  Jax waved away Kev's comment. "If that’s what you think, prepare to get schooled. We've got more chemistry than a keg of gunpowder."

  I looked at Jax warily. I was a little worried that he was giving away too much about us to the band, but I was also eager to prove that we could work well together.

  We agreed on teams and terms, did some trash-talking, and then the two teams separated, with each one heading to opposite sides of the park.

  Once we were in position, Jax and I started our hunt, seeking out each band member like an elite SWAT team. I quickly discovered and shot a surprised Sky trying to blend in with a bunch of kids by an octopus shooting water from its tentacles. Then Jax pointed out Chewie standing guard by the pirate ship. I nodded and snuck across the ship, hoping to get the jump on him. Instead I emerged to him gunning straight for me.

  I held up my guns, ready for a duel, when suddenly Jax came swinging by on one of the lagoon’s plastic vines like Tarzan, shooting Chewie’s sunglasses off his face. Chewie slumped away defeated.

  I spotted Kev across the pool by a row of lounge chairs. Jax went into commando mode, using finger gestures to indicate we should split up. He pointed back and forth between me and his eyes, signaling he was watching me. I snickered at how seriously he was taking this.

  We split up and maneuvered around the pool. Kev sp
otted us and took off running. After a brief chase, we managed to trap him between a water-logged jungle gym and the lockers. He spun around and held out his waterblaster, alternating his aim between the two of us. Jax and I squared our guns on Kev and slowly circled him in a Mexican standoff.

  Kev suddenly let out a battle cry and jumped to the side as he squirted me in the stomach. But Jax was on him in an instant, nailing him with both guns.

  I was upset that Kev managed to shoot me, but in the end I was glad our team won. Jax and I celebrated with a high-five followed by a butt bump and a chest bump.

  "Wow, I stand corrected. You guys do have chemistry," Kev said panting to catch his breath from running around. "You guys know each other’s movements so well. It’s almost like you’re an old married couple."

  "Oh, we’re just friends," I said quickly, and then laughed uncomfortably. "And barely ones at that."

  Great, that was just perfect. Not suspicious at all.

  Kev raised a skeptical eyebrow that I pretended not to see. I hurried to think of a distraction to change the topic.

  Inspiration struck and I casually walked over to Jax. With a big grin I said, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid this is totally necessary."

  He cocked his head. "What’s totally necessary?"

  I grabbed his arm with both hands. "I've got him, hurry up! Blast him!"

  "Hey!" Jax struggled against my grip, but I knew he wasn't using his full strength. "What are you doing? You're on my team, let go of me."

  "Nope, you brought this on yourself for being so damn good." I laughed as Sky, Chewie, and Kev surrounded us and then unloaded their guns on Jax. I got hit too, but I didn't mind it; it was like dousing a winning coach with a cooler of Gatorade—sometimes you get some on yourself.

  But their streams quickly petered out.

  "Ahh I'm tapped," Chewie said disappointedly.

  "Me too," Kev replied as he frowned and looked at Chewie.

  Like mirror images, Kev and Chewie both looked at each other, smiled, and silently nodded. They each grabbed one of Jax's feet. I continued holding onto his arm as Sky picked up on the cue and latched onto his other arm. With great effort, we hoisted him into the air.

  "What the hell are you guys doing?" Jax asked, sporting a big smile on his face.

  They say muscle weighs more than fat, and Jax's body was a testament to that, since it seemed like he was made out of solid concrete. We struggled to carry him over to the pool a few feet away. At the edge, we swung his body back and forth, building some momentum.

  "One, two, three!" I shouted and the four of us tossed Jax into the pool. He hit the water and sent a splash up higher than my head.

  We waited for a few seconds before Jax's head popped out of the water. He ran his hands through wet hair, pulling it out of his face. He lifted himself out of the pool as water cascaded down the grooves of his pecs and abs. Soaking wet, he stood there and stared at us.

  "Those teams were even more lopsided," he said before flashing us a big smile. "Still took all four of you to take me down."

  "Yeah, but it got the job done," I said, smiling and wiping my hands.

  "Way to go, Riles, bringing down the champ," Chewie said as he held up his hand. I high-fived him.

  Laughing and catching our breaths, we headed back to our spot to dry off. As we walked, Sky placed her hand on my arm and stepped in close to me. "You know, normally, it'd just be the three of us out here playing around, since Jax never joins our little roadside excursions. But personally, I subscribe to 'the more the merrier' mantra, so I'm glad you're here and you’re getting him out of his Fortress of Solitude."

  Her kind words made me feel warm and fuzzy. "Aw, thanks."

  Back at the lounge chairs, Chewie snapped a wet towel at Kev, who turned around and snapped Chewie back. Sky put on a pair of white sunglasses that covered half her face while she sprawled out on a lounge chair to soak up some rays.

  I started drying out my hair, no doubt turning it into a rat's nest. I was beaming with excitement. "It's awesome that you guys can just stop the bus wherever and hit up a water park. More jobs need to offer water park trips during the workday." But then an unflattering image of Palmer in a speedo flashed across my mind and I shuddered. "Although coming here with my boss would be pretty gross."

  They all laughed. Kev started wiping sunscreen across his bare, muscular chest. "Yeah we're always down for some fun. And it helps that unlike most bands, we all get along pretty well. Usually." Kev rolled his eyes over at Jax who narrowed his, but then Kev smiled warmly at me. "You know, it almost feels like you're part of the band too, Riley."

  I felt my face flush. Kev could be such a sweetheart.

  "That's me, cowbellist extraordinaire." I pantomimed playing the cowbell in an exaggerated fashion for a few seconds. "But seriously, I'm glad you think I'm fitting in so well. You've all made me feel so welcome on the tour."

  "Word," Chewie said, nodding and patting water off his pale arms with a towel. "Yeah, because otherwise, it'd probably be pretty awkward."

  I looked at him, confused. "Otherwise what’d be awkward?"

  "I mean it'd be awkward if we weren't so cool, considering what's going on with you and Jax."

  I froze. "What do you mean?"

  "You know," Chewie said.

  My pulse raced. I blinked rapidly. "Oh you mean since we're becoming friends?"

  Chewie stopped patting himself off and gave me a wry look. "No, I mean, considering that you two are a thing."

  The towel I’d been using to dry my hair fell to the ground. An unwelcome weight pressed against my chest.

  "I—I don't know what you're talking about," I said. My eyes darted around, avoiding anyone else's eye contact, and I spotted an ice cream stand. "Hey does anyone want any ice cream?"

  "It’s pretty obvious, Riley." Chewie smiled. "We’ve known about you two since Vegas. It’s all good."

  I glanced at Jax and he shrugged. Apparently he didn't know about it any more than I did.

  "You all know?" I asked tentatively, and they all nodded, " . . . and you’re all okay with it?" I twisted my fingers. "I don’t want to cause any drama."

  "So long as we keep rocking," Chewie said, "I’m down for whatever. You’re a cool chick, Riley, and I think you’ll be good for this big guy."

  "Yeah, I think you two are cute together," Sky said, her brow arched high above her sunglasses. "You’ve got this whole Bonnie and Clyde vibe."

  "I’m happy for you two." Kev added, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. "Don't worry, we'll keep this just in the band. We know it might be weird with you being the tour accountant and all."

  I exhaled deeply. I was relieved that the band was being so cool about it and I was happy that it was one less thing I had to worry about. This now meant that Jax and I didn't have to hide the fact that we were together. I looked at Jax and he wore a big, satisfied grin.

  "Aw, thanks guys," I said. "That means a lot to me to hear you say that."

  Jax smacked his hands together. "Cool, now that that’s settled, let’s get back to enjoying this water park."

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  ICE CREAM

  I felt drained after all the running around from the water fight. Sky left to go sprawl on a lounge chair tanning herself while Kev and Chewie continued chasing and shooting each other with their water guns.

  I started heading away from the pool area but Jax grabbed my arm and looked at me with a frown on his face. He grabbed Sky's bottle of suntan lotion from a lounge chair. "Wait, before we go, come here. Your skin needs sunscreen."

  "I rarely get any color so I could always be working on my tan, but my skin is pretty sensitive, so thanks," I said. It was sweet that he was thinking of me. All the fun we'd been having must've distracted me from applying any.

  Pulling my wet hair to the front of my neck, I turned around and felt Jax's presence up close behind me. I heard the lotion squirt. Even though I was expecting it, I was still shocked by the sudden co
olness of the sunscreen he slathered onto my back. I started swaying along to the movement of his hands against my body. I wanted to feel them everywhere across my skin, all at once.

  He reached around me and rubbed his hands across top of my chest, getting dangerously close to my bikini top. I felt his warm breath on the back of my neck as he said, "I like this bikini a lot more when I'm holding it in my hands."

  His soft whispering into my ear made me melt into a puddle of desire. "Too bad we're not in the bus' hot tub."

  "It's the perfect time to sneak away," he growled into my ear, his hands still kneading the lotion into my chest. "I need you now."

  Quivering with arousal, I licked my lips at the primal urgency of his voice. But as badly as I was aching for him, I still wanted to stay in the park for now, since we were having so much fun. "The hot tub will be there waiting for us, let's just finish enjoying the waterpark." Pulling his arms to the side, I grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it then I turned over to face him.

  Smiling slyly, he said, "You know better than to think that I'm that easily discouraged."

  The fact that we were standing there having this discussion meant I was well acquainted with his perseverance, but he had to have been equally familiar with my stubbornness by now. "Later. I promise. Besides, just because the band is cool with us now doesn't mean we need to rub it in their face." Grinning, I slipped the suntan lotion bottle from his hand. "You want me to get you too?"

  Jax shrugged. "My skin doesn't burn, but it's good to keep my tattoos from drying out."

  I squirted the sunscreen into my hands and wiped the white lotion up and down both of his tatted arms. Dabbing out a bit more sunscreen, my hands swirled it over his naturally bronzed chest and I bit my lip as I fingered his nipple rings. My palms moved lower against his washboard abs and I traced the V-shaped groove of his pelvis muscle. His muscle lines hypnotized me and my hands almost continued going down his shorts before I shook my head and stopped myself at the last second.

  When I finished, I looked up and saw that several women had been greedily watching my show, whispering to each other.