Isabella woke up because the sun was hitting her face. The big windows in the bedroom didn't have any curtains. She blinked and looked around. For a second, she forgot where she was. Then she felt the heavy arm draped over her waist and remembered everything.
She turned her head. Jaxson was still asleep. He looked different when he was sleeping. He looked younger and less scary. His mouth was slightly open, and his eyelashes were very long. Isabella wanted to touch his face, but she didn't want to wake him up.
She tried to slide out from under his arm. She needed to use the bathroom and find her clothes. But as soon as she moved, Jaxson's grip tightened.
"Where are you going?" he asked. His voice was very gravelly and deep from sleep. He didn't open his eyes.
"I was just getting up," Isabella said.
"No," he said. He pulled her back against his chest. "Stay. It's early."
"I have to go to work," she said. "I have a shift at the bookstore at ten."
Jaxson opened one eye. "Call in sick."
"I can't do that, Jaxson. I need the money."
Jaxson sat up. The blankets fell down to his waist. "How much do you make at that bookstore?"
"Ten dollars an hour," she said.
Jaxson reached for his wallet, which was on the nightstand. He pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills and tossed them onto her lap. "There. Now you don't need to go to work. Stay here with me."
Isabella looked at the money. It was more than she made in a whole month. She felt a little bit insulted, but also a little bit impressed. "I can't just take your money, Jaxson."
"Why not? I have too much of it. And I want you here. My wants are more important than that bookstore."
He got out of bed. He didn't care that he was naked. He walked over to the window and looked out at the city. "I'm going to make breakfast. Do you like pancakes?"
"Yes," Isabella said. She got up too, wrapping the sheet around herself like a toga.
She followed him into the kitchen. He looked very strange making pancakes while naked, but he seemed very comfortable. He moved around the kitchen like he knew exactly where everything was. He found a bowl and some flour and started mixing things.
"Tell me about your family," Jaxson said while he flipped a pancake.
"There's not much to tell," Isabella said, sitting at the marble counter. "My parents live in Florida. I haven't talked to them in a while. I'm an only child. What about you?"
Jaxson's face went dark again. "My parents are dead. They died in a car crash when I was eighteen. I inherited everything. That's why I have all this money. But it didn't make me happy. It just made people want things from me."
"I don't want anything from you," Isabella said softly.
Jaxson stopped what he was doing and looked at her. He walked around the counter and stood between her knees. He put his hands on her waist. "I know you don't. That's why I like you. But I'm going to give you everything anyway."
He kissed her, and it tasted like maple syrup. Isabella felt that familiar spark again. She forgot about the bookstore. She forgot about her beige apartment and her fifty-dollar couch. All she cared about was the man standing in front of her.
The kitchen was filled with the smell of bacon and coffee. Jaxson was still naked, which Isabella found very distracting. She sat on the stool, clutching her white sheet. She felt like a Greek goddess, but a messy one.
"Eat," Jaxson said, sliding a plate of pancakes in front of her. They were perfectly round. He had even put little blueberries in them. "You need your strength."
"Strength for what?" Isabella asked, taking a bite. The pancake was fluffy and sweet.
Jaxson leaned over the counter. His green eyes were glowing in the morning sun. "Strength for me. I'm taking you out today. We're going to the Plaza Mall. I'm buying you a new dress. A red one."
"I have dresses, Jaxson," Isabella said, though she knew they were all from the clearance rack at the local department store.
"You have rags," Jaxson said. He wasn't being mean; he was just stating a fact. "My woman doesn't wear rags. You're going to wear silk. And lace. And I'm going to buy you shoes with heels so high you'll have to hold onto me just to walk."
Isabella blushed. The idea of him buying her clothes was exciting. "Okay. But I have to go home and get my purse."
"You don't need your purse," Jaxson said. He reached into a drawer and pulled out a black credit card. It didn't have a limit. He tapped it on the marble. "This is your purse now."
Isabella finished her breakfast. She felt very full. Jaxson went to take a shower. She heard the water running. She walked around the living room, looking at his things. There wasn't much. No photos of family. No books. Just a big telescope pointed at the city and a lot of expensive furniture.
She saw his phone on the coffee table. It started to buzz. A name popped up: MARCO.
Isabella knew she shouldn't look, but she couldn't help it. The message said: The shipment is at the docks. 2 AM. Don't be late or the Boss will be angry.
Isabella felt a chill. What shipment? Who was the Boss? She put the phone back down quickly when she heard the shower stop. Jaxson walked out with a towel around his waist. His hair was dripping wet.
"Ready to go, Bella?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, trying to act normal. "I'm ready."