The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories (329 page)

“I know. I’m sorry, maybe next weekend? I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Next weekend we’ll be past our three-week window,” Jax reminded her.

Karma’s face appeared to go paler. “Oh, I almost forgot about that. You’re right, let’s do it now.” Karma pulled at the cuffs of her sweater and looked back at the coffee shop. Back at Eric.

“Karma, if you’d rather be in there with him all you have to do is say the word.”

“What? No.” She shook her head. “Is that what you think?”

Jax stopped in his tracks and looked at her. “I don’t know what I think. You’re definitely acting different since Ivy League came to the table.”

“Are you jealous, Jax?” Karma looked surprised.

“Hell yes, I’m jealous,” Jax said and quickly regretted the words. He didn’t want to put any unwanted pressure on her. If she wanted to walk away in three weeks, he had made up his mind, he was going to let her. No matter how much it sucked.

“He’s a jerk. I guess I was just thinking about how much things have changed since I was in high school. My friends and I all went different paths. It seems like a lifetime ago. A year ago, I would have been ecstatic that Eric was interested in taking me out. I guess I was just thinking how pathetic I really was back then. Trust me, you have nothing to be jealous about.”

Relief flooded his veins, and his shattered ego was quickly pieced back together. “If you’re not up for skydiving today we can make a date for next weekend.”

Karma looked up tilted her head, studying him as if trying to tell if he was joking. “No, Jax, a deal is a deal. Three weeks and then we walk away.”

Jax tried to remain calm on the surface, but inside his gut twisted. Even after all the time they had spent together she still wasn’t open to extending their deadline? Or hell, throwing it out altogether?

Karma gazed at him with another odd, searching look. Fine, if that’s how she wanted to play it so be it. It’s not like he really wanted a long-term relationship. He was better off on his own. He liked being single.

“Like you said, a deal is a deal.” Jax shrugged and willed a grin to cross his face.

“You’ve definitely taught me to live in the moment,” Karma said wistfully and laced her arm through his as they walked the rest of the way across the parking lot. “I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”

He opened the door, not sure what to say.

Karma scooted over to the middle as if she hadn’t just crushed his soul. “Jax, do you think we’re only attracted to each other because of the bucket list?”

“What?” Jax asked in surprise. The idea was ludicrous.

“I’m serious. I was reading an article in a magazine and it said that danger is like a sexual aphrodisiac. Something about adrenaline increasing sexual desire. Every date we’ve had we do something insane. Hell, today we’re jumping out of an airplane. Throw in the three-week timeline and we’re bound to be crazy about each other, right?”

Jax let the information sink in and realized she was probably right. Not to mention the dangling carrot of her virginity. What if it wasn’t really Karma he was so into but the idea of her? He looked over at her out of the corner of his eye. Her wide gray eyes stared back at him innocently. She looked fragile and pure. Damn it, she made him feel alive in a way he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Could it really just be the stupid list and the delayed gratification? He’d have to think it over. Maybe walking away at the end of the three weeks was the best thing for them to do. To figure out if it was real or an illusion.

He realized Karma was waiting on him to reply. “I don’t know if that’s true or not. All I know is I’m going to enjoy every second I have with you.”

“I second that motion.” Karma bit her lip and looked up at him.

Jax swore under his breath and next thing he knew his lips were on hers. They both moved closer. His hands slipped down her back and up her sweater, turning her body into his until her chest was pressed against him. His kiss was more demanding than usual. His hands roamed her body possessively as his tongue swirled around hers. God, he wanted her to be all his. He’d never wanted anything so badly in life. Jax tore his mouth from hers. He didn’t know if he could let her walk away. He took a deep breath, trying to slow his breathing.

“One week left,” he said thickly. He didn’t know if he was talking to her or himself. He started the engine and tore off down the road.

––––––––

W
here had the time gone? They only had six days left. Every day Karma put a big X on her calendar. On the one hand, she couldn’t wait to have sex with Jax, but on the other hand she hated the thought that their time was coming to an end. It was bittersweet. It was the best three weeks of her life. She felt like she was finally coming into her own. Her confidence had increased tremendously. Jax was obviously attracted to her. His reactions could not be faked. He wanted her as badly as she wanted him.

And who cared if it was because of the stupid list or adrenaline rush. All she cared about was he wanted her—flaws and all, Jax wanted to be with her. In the time they had spent together, he had gotten to know her better than anyone else. Other than perhaps her shrink, and even that was debatable. They’d been having so much fun together, only being apart on the days he had to work, which thankfully wasn’t often.

Once again, they were driving down the road destination unknown. It was freeing and exciting.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” Karma asked as she placed her small hand on his muscular thigh. It was crazy the way she trusted him explicitly. Instinctively, she knew she was safe with him. There was a protective streak in him that she found comforting.

Slowly, she traced circles on his thigh, and he inhaled sharply, his muscles tensing. She did that to him! Just a slight touch—it was mind-boggling. She was always so aware of his body and her reaction to him and vice versa. Instant arousal whenever he was near. She didn’t recall it ever being like that with any other guys. She wanted him badly.
Just six more days.
A small thrill went through her at the thought.

Obviously, the no fooling around had been tossed out the window from day one, whittled down to the no sex rule—at least not for six more days. As if he felt Karma’s eyes on him, he turned his head, meeting her gaze.

“Sorry, I was daydreaming. Today’s adventure’s white-water rafting.” He smiled crookedly.

Her eyes widened. “What? I didn’t even bring a bathing suit.”

“You don’t need one. Besides, it’s getting a little cold to be swimming. The plan is to stay inside the raft.” He grinned, and her heart did its usual flutter.

She looked at him skeptically. He looked down at what she was wearing: capri pants and a short-sleeve shirt. “You’ll be fine in that.”

“Are you sure? We could turn around and I could grab something else?”

“I’m positive. And you need to stop doing that with your hand, or we’re going to end up in the ditch.”

Karma sighed and pulled her hand away, interlacing her fingers in her lap.

“What were you like as a little boy?” Karma asked, staring out the window. She always asked him questions about himself. She loved hearing the stories he told and picturing them in her mind. She knew he enjoyed cooking, listening to music, working out; he missed competitive fighting, could recite lines from almost every movie from the nineties, and he didn’t trust easily.

Jax laughed, entwining his long firm fingers with hers. “Your mind is always jumping around. I was a hellion as a kid. I was always in fights, usually because of my sisters. I didn’t do as well in school as I should have. After my father passed away, I went through a really rough patch. I guess that would be a good way to put it. I practically lived in detention. My mother was worried I’d be behind bars before I turned thirteen.”

Karma turned to take in his profile. She loved the strong lines of his face. “What happened to change your wild ways?”

“My uncle came to visit. I was on the verge of being kicked out of school and he sat me down and told me I had to man up. That my father would expect me to take over his role as the man of the house. He explained that my acting out was hurting my mother, and she needed me more than ever with my dad gone. The next day I went to school, kept my mouth shut, head down, came home on time, and helped out as much as I could. I got a job as a paperboy and gave my mom the earnings. I couldn’t stand the thought that I was disappointing my father.”

“How old were you?”

Jax made a slight grimace. “Ten.”

“That’s pretty young to have to grow up so fast.”

Jax shrugged. “It is what it is. What about you? How were you as a child, Karma? Besides adorable as hell.”

Karma closed her eyes briefly, leaning her head back. “The exact opposite of you. Spoiled rotten, daddy’s girl, sheltered and lonely. Hell, I still act like a child.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“It is, but I’m trying to change it. I need to move out from under my dad’s wing.” Karma had been searching for apartments online and even applied for a couple of jobs near the school. Her father had offered her a job at his office, but she felt like this was something she had to do on her own.

“I’m sure it was tough with your mother. Has she always been like that?” Jax asked gently.

Karma inwardly groaned. Just thinking about her mother made her feel vulnerable. “Pretty much. I was always trying to win her affection, and she was always reminding me how poorly I failed to do so.”

“I think it’s only natural you cling to your father. He’s your constant.”

“I guess. But it’s time I branch out. I know he’ll always be there if I need to run home with my tail between my legs. I guess I finally realized that I was OK with moving out. Even though I’m still nervous as hell about it.”

“Have you found a place?”

“Not yet, I figure I’ll really start looking next week. I want to enjoy the rest of the time we have together.”

She noticed his body tensed, but he didn’t say anything. Just kept his eyes on the road. A few moments later he turned the truck down a side road, and she saw a sign that read Outdoor Adventures. Her life had turned into a big adventure. Who would have thought she would love it so much?

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J
ax pulled out the cooler from the back of the truck and grabbed the plaid blanket, hanging it over his forearm. “Ready?”

“I hope I don’t mess up,” Karma said quietly. A cool breeze caressed her face. She took in the tall trees, inhaled the scent of recent rain, and could hear the rush of the river close by. “I went canoeing once at summer camp. That’s the extent of my knowledge on water, and that didn’t end well. The canoe flipped, and it took us almost thirty minutes to unflip it and climb back inside.”

“You’ll be fine. It’s actually quite easy.”

“Uh-huh.” Karma bumped her hip against his. “Maybe for you.”

Jax found a flat area under a huge weeping willow and spread the blanket out, setting the cooler on top of it. “I hope you like ham and cheese?”

Karma rolled her eyes. “You know I like everything.”

“You don’t like lima beans,” Jax reminded her. “Or coleslaw.”

“I’m surprised you remember that,” Karma said with a laugh. “Okay, so I’ll eat
almost
everything.”

Jax popped the top of the root beer and handed it to her. Karma lay on her side and took a sip as Jax pulled out the sandwiches, potato salad, and fresh fruit. He really was too good to be true.

Once they finished eating they tossed the garbage in the can, dropped their belongings back in the truck, and headed toward the rental building. Karma watched as Jax strode forward and thought for the thousandth time she was really going to miss him.

The attractive redhead behind the counter was blatantly flirting with Jax, but he appeared oblivious. Karma was surprised that she didn’t feel threatened by the woman, even though she had perky breasts that were practically falling out of her tank top, and her eyes were wandering over Jax’s body.

A minute later he looked over his shoulder and waved for her to join him.

He placed his hand on her lower back. “She’ll need a vest.”

The woman looked her up and down. “What are you, a size ten?”

Bitch.
Karma wasn’t inclined to argue with the woman in front of Jax or let the girl’s overt dig get to her. So instead she just smiled and wrapped her arm around Jax’s waist.

The girl turned and grabbed two vests and helmets off the rack. She led them back toward the rafts, pointed them in the direction of the path, and went back to her post after a couple of failed attempts to make eye contact with Jax. Karma had to stifle a laugh. They strapped on the vests and pulled the raft behind them down the slight incline, twigs snapping beneath their feet. She could smell the river and hear the rolling water. She hoped the current wasn’t too crazy. She wasn’t kidding when she said she had no experience on water. At least she knew how to swim.

Jax looked over at her and gave her a sexy grin. “This is going to be fun.”

His smile was infectious and automatically she returned it as she tightened the strap on her helmet. She was scared, but she knew she would have fun. If there was one thing she learned from all of this, it was that once you let go of the fear, it really was exciting.

Jax held the raft in the water. “I’ll hold the raft and you get in first. In the back.”

Karma looked at the raft with wary eyes. “Don’t let go.”

“I’m not going to let go. Just get in and sit down, and remember the water can be powerful so we respect it and go with the flow.”

Whatever the hell that meant.
Karma made a face as she placed one foot and then the other into the small raft and unsteadily lowered herself. The raft rocked back and forth, causing her stomach to roll. The top of the raft came up a little from the weight of her, but Jax quickly pushed it back down. She reached down and grabbed the oar. Before they made it to the river bank he’d gone over how to hold it and explained she just did the opposite of what he did. Assuring her even if she wasn’t in the raft he would be able to control it on his own. Which brought a slight sense of relief to her.