The air between them thickened, hot and heavy, as if the entire kitchen had shrunk to the span of his arms around her.
Maya's pulse thundered in her ears, each beat revibrating through the cage of her ribs.
"Careful," his voice came low, almost a grunt, each syllable vibrating against her spine.
She swallowed hard, staring at the countertop in front of her because turning around felt dangerous, like willingly stepping into a storm. But the heat of him seeped into her skin, drowning out rational thought, dragging her back to that night she'd sworn to forget.
Her fingers gripped the edge of the counter. "I... I'm fine," she lied, her voice thinner than she intended.
His hands didn't move. If anything, his grip tightened just slightly, anchoring her there.
"Are you?" he asked, the question wrapped in something that felt nothing like concern.
Maya's chest rose and fell faster, the scent of him wild, earthy, and annoyingly familiar pulling at her memory until she almost saw flashes of tangled sheets and stolen breaths.
She forced herself to turn, slow and deliberate, only to find herself face-to-face with Jax Thorn.
His gaze pinned her, he was looking directly into her eyes like he was staring into her soul. She felt some kind of feeling she couldn't explain.
"Let me go," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.
Jax's lips curved in something that wasn't quite a smile with one of his eyebrow raised up and he said "If I do, will you run?"
She lifted her chin. "Maybe."
That earned her a flicker of amusement, but it vanished almost instantly, replaced by something darker. "You're not leaving," he said, each word deliberate, adamant.
Her heartbeat stuttered, not from fear but from the way his presence filled every inch of the space. "You can't keep me here."
"I can," he countered softly, and the quiet confidence in his tone unsettled her more than any shouted threat could have. "And I will, Princess."
The word hit her like a stone thrown into still water, sending ripples of confusion and suspicion outward. "Don't call me that," she snapped.
His head tilted, studying her, as though he was gauging how much she knew… or how much she'd forgotten.
"You don't remember," he murmured, almost to himself, fingers brushing the bare skin at her waist before retreating. "Interesting."
Maya took a step back, needing space, but his hand shot out and caught hers, pulling her back just enough to remind her of the strength coiled beneath his control.
"You think I'm your enemy," he said, his gaze unwavering. "But you'll see soon enough… you've been mine far longer than you realize."
Maya snatched her hand free, glaring up at him. "You don't get to talk in riddles and expect me to stand here like some obedient"
"Obedient?" His brow arched, his tone laced with challenge. "That's never been you."
She crossed her arms, ignoring the fact that her pulse was still racing. "Then stop playing games. What did you mean by 'Princess'?"
Jax stepped closer, his shadow swallowing hers on the kitchen floor. "You really don't remember… do you?"
Her jaw tightened. "Remember what?"
His gaze searched hers, as if weighing whether the truth would shatter her or set her on fire. "If I tell you," he said slowly, "you'll never look at me the same way again."
She laughed once, sharp and humorless. "You think I look at you now with sunshine and rainbows?"
The corner of his mouth twitched, but the intensity in his eyes never wavered. "No. But you look at me without knowing why you should hate me."
Her breath caught, and for a moment, the air between them turned heavier. "You're assuming I don't already."
"Princess," he said again, softer this time, almost like it was meant for him more than her. "One day soon, that word will mean something to you… and when it does, you'll understand why I can't let you go."
Before she could fire back, he moved past her, the heat of his body brushing hers in the narrow space. But his words clung to her like smoke, impossible to shake off.
Maya stood frozen, staring at the spot where Jax had disappeared, her heartbeat refusing to calm.
"Princess." The word replayed in her mind, stubborn and unshakable. It wasn't just a nickname. The way he'd said it… there was history in it. A history she didn't remember.
Her fingers folded into fists. She hated that he could rattle her like this, that one word could stir up a storm inside her.
If he thought she was going to sit around and wait for him to hand her answers on a silver platter, he didn't know her at all.
She moved toward the sink, her thoughts firing like live rounds.
There were only two possibilities either he was toying with her to keep her off balance, or there was a truth buried deep enough that someone had gone to great lengths to erase it from her memory.
And if it was the second… she needed to know why.
She wiped her hands on a dish towel, the decision solidifying in her mind. If Jax wouldn't talk, she'd find another way to dig into his past. There had to be records, people, stories… something that tied him to her before now.
But she'd have to be careful.
Men like Jax didn't leave trails by accident.
Maya dried her hands and slipped out of the kitchen, her steps light against the wooden floor. The murmur of voices drifted from the main hall pack members moving about, busy with preparations for the night's run.
Perfect cover.
She moved down the corridor, her eyes scanning for signs of Jax. No deep voice. No heavy footfalls. He wasn't here.
Her pulse quickened.
His office door was closed.
She hesitated for half a heartbeat, then turned the handle.
Unlocked.
The room smelled like him cedarwood and leather, with a faint undertone of wild earth. She slipped inside, shutting the door just enough to block the view from the hall.
Her gaze swept the space. The desk was neat, too neat. A stack of papers, a single black pen, nothing personal. But the cabinet in the corner… that was promising.
She crossed the room, her fingers brushing the metal handle.
Locked.
She bit the inside of her cheek, scanning for keys. A glint of silver caught her eye near the edge of the desk just barely sticking out from under a file.
The sound of footsteps in the hall froze her in place.
Her fingers hovered over the key, the cool metal winking up at her like forbidden treasure.
The footsteps grew louder. Heavy. Unhurried.
Jax.
Her breath caught.
She snatched her hand back, forcing herself to look casual as she pretended to study the papers on his desk. Every second stretched thin, her ears tuned to the approach.
The steps stopped… right outside the door.
A shadow moved across the thin line of light at the bottom.
Her heart thudded against her ribs.
The handle rattled once then stilled.
Silence.
She didn't dare move.
After what felt like a full minute, the footsteps faded down the hall.
Maya released a slow, controlled breath, her fingers curling into her palms. She cast one last glance at the key. Close. Too close.
She'd need a better plan next time.