His Forbidden Angel

{Book 1 of Deception series}

"That's seriously what you think?" She asks in bewilderment. I scoff, "No its what I know. I watched it with my own two eyes Ashlynn." She chuckles sarcastically at my condescending tone. With a look of defiance in her eyes she leans forward so that her lips brush my own as she speaks, "I was right outside in the stairwell the entire time. I never left. I watched the end of the fight and then I went upstairs and had a drink with Emmaline. Margo left with the guys. I've been here this entire time." I clench my jaw and close my eyes. She has been exposed to the darkest parts of me over the years. Why didn't she run when she had the chance?
She won't get another one; I won't let her leave now.
"Look at me Jax." I blink my eyes open to find unshed tears in her own. "You are not your father," the conviction in her voice sends relief through me. I release her wrists but keep her caged against the lockers. Her newly freed arms wrap themselves around my neck and pull me so that my forehead rests against hers. Her body is pinned between mine and the locker which means I can feel every enticing inch of her. "I won't leave you; and I won't let your demons consume you." Her eyes stay closed during that statement only to open again with amusement dancing in them. Breathlessly she says, "But if you don't kiss me in the next two seconds I'm going to combust." My body hums in anticipation. This girl is going to be the death of me.

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Ashlynn conceals her trauma behind a facade of perfection. Never a hair out of place, makeup to cover the bruises, outfits to hide the scars- all because she's afraid to appear weak.

Jaxon chooses to embrace the trauma to fuel his anger. He uses fighting as a release. He is who he is and he's unapologetic about it.

He can see the pain behind the illusion she creates.

She looks past his anger to the complex emotions underneath.

Will they be each other's salvation? Or will they choose to continue coping alone?