Page 55 of Relentless Sinner

“I need to get my swimsuit.”

“No. Take your dress off and get in here with whatever you’re wearing underneath.”

I bite my tongue, swallowing the words on the tip that were about to call him an unreasonable asshole.

Tamping down my annoyance, I step back and shrug out of my dress, leaving me in just my blue lace bra and matching panties.

Jaxon watches me with the keen eyes of a hawk, slowly appraising my body. I hate that I can admit I’ve never had a man look at me the way he does.

As if he wants to devour me yet protect me. It’s a weird combo but that’s what I read in his eyes.

I slip off my shoes then take the steps up and climb down into the hot tub.

I sit across from him and rest my back against the wall. The warm water and subtle spray of bubbles feel good on my skin, lulling the tension in my muscles to relax. I could—easily—if Jaxon weren’t in here with me.

He smiles at me and puts the cigar out in the ashtray he’s placed on the edge near him. “So, let’s talk.”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“You.”

“What about me?”

“Why do you want to be a doctor?”

“My mother was a doctor. I watched her save someone’s life once and I decided I wanted to be like her.”

He looks intrigued. “What did she do?”

“She did CPR on an old man who collapsed in the park. He had a heart attack.”

I remember the day so well it could have been yesterday. Mom and I were on one of our walks, talking about the books and movies we liked. The man was with his wife. She was screaming for help and crying because she thought she had lost him. When my mother saw what happened she just jumped into action and saved the man’s life.

“That’s commendable.”

“My mother was a brain surgeon. I guess I just wanted to follow in her footsteps."

"Did she go to NYU as well?”

“Yeah.”

“You seem to want to do a lot of things your mother did.” He studies my face and hits me with a curious stare.

“She provided the roadmap and I followed. She is my inspiration.”

“I get that but what about you? Surely you don’t want to do every single thing your mother did. Is there anything different you want to do? Something she never did?”

“Yes. I guess my plan would have been to stay in New York for the majority of my studies but do a placement in Europe. Maybe live there for a while. But unfortunately, under myfather’s rule, I had to take what I could get.” I can’t believe I just said that but it’s out of my head now.

“Where? Where would you have gone?”

“I don’t know. Maybe somewhere like England.”

“You’d like England if you’ve readWuthering Heightsas much as you have.” He sounds like he has an appreciation for the country. I remember him saying he went to college there.

“I kind of wanted to go because of that. I guess it doesn’t really matter now.”

“Why?”