Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 432: Bossy

Before Mari could ring the doorbell, the door opened and Jax stood in the doorway looking exhausted.

Not normal tired as she had expected but completely exhausted and rough.

His eyes were red. His shirt had paint stains all over it. His hair looked messy like he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly.

And his face—

Mari’s chest tightened painfully at how drained he looked.

For a moment Jax simply stared at her.

Like his tired brain needed time to process what he was seeing.

"Mari?" His voice sounded rough.

Mari’s eyes softened immediately. "Surprise!"

Jax blinked slowly.

He had thought he was seeing things when he received notification of an incoming vehicle and confirmed it was Mari’s car.

"What are you doing here?" he asked quietly, wondering if she’d defied her father again.

Mari smiled. "What else? I missed you."

He looked behind her at the guards, then back at her. "Am I to believe you got your father’s approval to be here?"

"I know you probably won’t let me cross the door if I don’t go through the right channel, so yes. I got his permission. The presence of his men should tell you that much."

His face softened at her words, and he stepped aside immediately.

"I didn’t expect you to answer the door. Are you home alone?" Mari asks as she entered.

"Yeah. It seems Chad and Venita stepped out while I wasn’t paying attention. I got the notification of your arrival from the security feed at the gate," he explained as he shut the door behind her quietly.

She turned back to look at him and now that she was standing closer to him, she realized that he looked even worse.

He had circles sat beneath his eyes. And he looked thinner too.

Her chest squeezed painfully. "You look horrible."

"That’s not a very romantic thing to say to your boyfriend," he murmured.

Mari smiled. "You don’t exactly look like my boyfriend right now, do you?"

"I don’t?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"Not at all. You look like you just escaped a zombie apocalypse," she said, trying not to laugh at the scowl forming on his face.

Jax looked at her for a long moment. Then suddenly he pulled her into his arms.

Mari gasped softly.

The force of it made her stumble lightly against his chest.

Jax buried his face against her neck immediately.

Mari froze softly at the feeling of his warm breath against her skin.

His arms tightened around her waist like he could not hold her close enough.

The teasing smile slowly faded from Mari’s lips.

"Oh," she whispered softly, feeling warm all over.

Jax exhaled deeply against her neck.

The sound made something ache inside her chest.

For a few seconds neither of them spoke.

Mari slowly wrapped her arms around him too and gently rubbed his back.

"You missed me that badly?" she asked softly.

Jax lifted his head slightly.

His tired eyes searched her face quietly.

"You have no idea how hard I’m trying to hold myself back from tearing off your clothes and making love to you right here," he said in a husky voice.

Mari’s heart fluttered.

Damn!

Even looking exhausted, he still knew how to make her knees weak.

She smiled softly. "Why do you have to hold back? What if I don’t want you to?"

"You’re sure you about that?"

His voice was low, rough, and serious.

Mari swallowed lightly under the intensity in his eyes. "Very sure."

She was barely done before Jax’s hand suddenly slid into her hair.

Before she could react properly, he tilted her head up and kissed her hard.

The kiss stole the air from her lungs immediately.

Mari gasped softly against his lips as his other hand covered her neck.

It did not feel slow or playful as usual. It felt hungry and desperate like he had been starving for her.

Her heart fluttered wildly inside her chest, and her fingers curled tightly against his shirt as he kissed her deeper.

Heat spread through her whole body so quickly it almost made her dizzy.

Damn! She had missed him too.

Jax kissed her like he knew that. Like he could feel it. And Mari melted against him with a throaty moan.

The hand in her hair tightened slightly while the other hand slid down her neck slowly, brushing over her boobs to her waist before pulling her flush against him.

Mari’s breath caught instantly.

Her knees felt weak.

"You still think I don’t look like your boyfriend?" he murmured against her lips.

Mari tried to answer but failed, because he kissed her again before she could speak properly.

The force of it made her toes curl inside her shoes.

Jax backed her gently against the door without breaking the kiss.

Mari’s back hit the door softly.

The sound barely registered in her head.

Not when Jax was kissing her like this. Not when his hands were all over her. Not when every touch made her body vibrate.

Mari’s hands slid into his messy hair.

"Am I your boyfriend, Mari?" he whispered breathlessly between kisses.

"You taste and feel like him, but I still need a little more convincing," she said, and Jax gave a tired laugh against her lips.

Jax’s breath caught at the feel of her hand slipping beneath the waistband of his shorts.

His eyes stayed locked on hers.

Mari’s stomach tightened under that look.

Then Jax grabbed her wrist gently. Not to stop her. Just to hold it there.

"Mari," he said quietly.

The roughness in his voice made heat rush through her body again.

She tilted her chin slightly. "You’re wasting both our time. This is the time you should tear my clothes and ram me against the wall or something."

A tired laugh escaped him.

Even exhausted, this woman could still drive him insane.

Then he kissed the corner of her mouth.

Then her jaw.

Then slowly down her neck.

Mari felt her stomach tighten helplessly and her eyes fluttered shut as warmth spread through her chest.

The man barely even had energy to stand properly, yet he still knew exactly how to undo her completely.

Almost immediately, she remembered he was exhausted and shouldn’t be using what little energy he had for this.

"You should rest," she whispered weakly, even as her fingers tightened in his shirt.

"I will," he murmured against her skin as his lips brushed her neck again. "After I convince you I’m still your boyfriend."

She giggled. "I’m funny convinced now. You can stop."

"Are you sure you want me to?" He asked as his hand went under her skimpy skirt and he felt the wetness between her legs.

Mari gently touched his cheek. "Yes. Your wellbeing comes before my desire. You’ll make it up to me after I’ve made sure you’re well rested."

Jax’s expression softened instantly and he rested his forehead against hers.

"You being here already makes it better," he admitted quietly.

"Of course. I’m Mari after all," she said with a wink.

Jax laughed softly as he buried his face against her neck again.

She wrapped her arms around him again and gently rubbed his back.

"No more painting today," she whispered firmly.

Jax sighed softly against her shoulder.

"Mari—"

"No," she cut in gently as she pulled back so he sees how serious she was. "If you collapse they’d get another artist to do the job but I won’t get another boyfriend like you. So you’re going to eat, drink lots of water, shave, soak in a warm relaxing bath, and sleep. In that order."

A weak laugh escaped him. "You sound bossy."

"I am bossy."

"That’s true."

Mari smiled. "Now let’s get to it."

"After you, ma’am," he said, and Mari led the way inside.