The air between them thickened. It felt like the kitchen itself had shrunk, the heat of the closeness of his body pressing in from all sides. Jax’s arms rested on the counter, one on each side of her, caging her in.

Maya’s heart was beating so fast than normal. It was so loud she was sure he could hear it. She gripped the edge of the marble counter, her knuckles turning pale.

“Careful,” Jax said, his voice low. It wasn’t loud, but the sound carried a weight. She felt it more than ...