Irons (Norfolk #1) (7 page)

My heart was beating out of my chest when she walked up to the podium and set her notebook down.

Frankie

“G
ood morning. I
am Francesca Cruz. Three years ago we lost my brother, Will, due to a horrible accident that took not only his life but the life of Robert Snell. A year later, we were finally given an explanation as to why my brother crashed and was killed in a rescue mission.”

I took the remote and clicked on the presentation I had prepared. “As you see here, we have energy drinks. Moonstar, RockStars, five hour boost, and the one here that gives you wings. They all look perfectly safe and they’re sold in every convenience store and drug store in America. So they’re perfectly safe, right? No. Wrong.”

“Energy drinks are sold as nutritional supplements so the FDA does not regulate nor limit the amount of caffeine, taurine, ginseng, carnitine, or other stimulants that are added. Caffeine in a cup of coffee gives us a boost at 100mg. These substances in small doses are pretty innocuous. However, many of these energy drinks give us five times that in one drink. This is not only dangerous but can be deadly. Sleep disturbance, restlessness, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, arrhythmia, seizures and even deaths have been reported and linked to these seemingly safe drinks.”

“As pilots and flight crew, you know what obstacles you are up against while in flight. You have to depend on your ability to stay calm, and react with the precision with which you were trained to perform. It should be very clear why these drinks are dangerous to your ability. The US Navy has begun testing pilot flight performance. So far, it is evident that after drinking energy drinks a pilot’s abilities are notably impaired.”

“Colonel Smith has agreed to let me be part of the team assigned to getting a new policy placed in AvMed prohibiting pilots from flying for twenty four hours after an energy drink is consumed. That being said, you’ll more than likely be seeing me around here a lot more often.”

“Thank you for your time. If you have any questions, I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.”

Hands shot up and Colonel Smith walked up and stood next to me at the podium.

I pointed to one of the men whose hand was raised. “Your brother was a great man, Miss Cruz. His and Roberts loss still weighs heavy on many of our hearts. But with all due respect, twenty four hours seems like a bit of overkill, don’t you think? I mean alcohol can’t be consumed for twelve hours preflight.”

“Alcohol’s effects are known. Studies have been conducted and it is regulated by the FDA.”

“The stuff in these drinks is mostly all natural.”

“I understand that, but that argument won’t work. Caffeine is a natural ingredient but again, you wouldn’t drink five cups of coffee down in the matter of minutes and expect that not to affect you. Calling something all natural and assuming it’s safe is, with all due respect, ignorant.”

I avoided eye contact with Jax but his presence was not easily ignored. I continued answering questions and when I had finished, I glanced over at another hand in the air.

“Your question?”

“Frankie, we loved your brother and I just want you to know that you have our support. He’d be proud of you.”

“Thanks Titan, that means everything to me.”

After spending the next three hours with Colonel Smith setting up a schedule and teams to conduct the studies I wanted to do, it was time for me to leave.

As I was walking down the hall Ace was walking out of the training room.

“Miss Cruz,” he smiled.

“Ace?”

“That’s me. Can you and I have lunch? I’d like to talk to you about something.”

“Sure, let me know when and I’ll see if I’m free.”

“You free now?”

“I guess I am.”

We decided to meet at a Mexican restaurant on Hampton. As I drove, I thought about the fact that Jax and I hadn’t even talked and I regretted what had happened between us. I knew how I felt about him but I’m sure it was compelled by how much I wanted Will back. Jax and Will were a team. Will rarely came home without Jax. I knew at some point I needed to talk to him because losing him completely was not an option for me, but what had happened between us was wrong.

I parked and sat in the car to return a message from my parents. They wanted to do dinner soon and hear about how things were going. I looked up and Ace was standing by the restaurant door.

He was a very attractive man. Tall, built, blonde spikey hair, and piercing blue eyes. Yes, Ace was very nice looking and I wasn’t sure what this was about but I wasn’t interested in another one night stand with a friend of Will’s.

He pulled my chair out and I sat.

“The steak enchiladas are the best here.”

“Have you had the chicken enchiladas?”

“No, but the way you say it, sounds much better that I do. Maybe I’ll have to give them a try for that reason alone.”

I looked up and he was smiling at me.

“I think you’d like them.”

“I think I would, too.”

He sat back and continued staring at me.

“Look, I was under the impression you wanted to discuss something.”

“Right. I just wanted to eat lunch before. Is that all right with you?”

“No, not really.”

“Fine. What I am going to tell you is understandably going to make you angry.”

“Okay, look, I think we should just cut through the pleasantries and get to it, shall we?”

“As you wish.” He sat back and ran his hands through his hair. He shook his head and then leaned forward looking me straight in his eyes. “I blamed Will for Bobbie’s death. I told Irons it was Wills fault. I was pissed, I started a fight—”

“You were grieving.”

He stopped and sat back. No words were exchanged.

I looked down trying to gather my thoughts when the waitress came to take our order.

“Francesca?”

I looked up at him and then at the waitress. “Chicken enchiladas.”

“Make that two orders, please,” he picked up the menus and handed them to her.

When she walked away he leaned forward. “You’re pretty damn amazing you know that?”

“I understand grieving. It’s not all that amazing.”

“Yeah, well, your brother’s best friend didn’t.”

“Jax?”

“Who else?” He took a drink and sat back, “The guys a loose cannon. He heard me and my boys venting and then broke my nose.”

I didn’t mean to laugh but I did. He didn’t look angry he just shook his head back and forth.

“Jax loved Will. He’s a good guy.”

“I’ll take your word for it. So what happened when he dragged you out of Tuna’s the other night? You do know that was all about me. He and I, well we will never be close.”

“That’s too bad. Will thought an awful lot of him.”

“So what’s Irons to you now, your protector?”

“Well Jax does whatever Jax wants to do, so I guess if that’s his chosen role there isn’t much I can do about it.”

“So, if I wanna take you out again, I have to go through him?”

“I didn’t say that. Nor did I know that this was ‘taking me out’.”

“Okay, that’s fair.”

He sat back and stared at me then smiled, “You’re a very beautiful girl, Francesca. I will absolutely want to take you out. If I have to make nice with Irons, then that’s what I will do.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” I laughed, because I knew damn well Jax would have a problem with it. Not because of what took place between him and me but because of Will. I could forgive, I just wasn’t sure Jaxson Irons was built the same.

When we left the restaurant Ace tried to kiss me, I turned so he caught my cheek, “A lady, huh?”

“Of course.” I smiled and waved as I walked away.

*     *     *

I pulled up
in front of my apartment and grabbed my bags. I wanted to do some more work before meeting the people chosen to be on the committee to help set restrictions on the use of energy drinks for pilots and soldiers. Aside from school, this is what was most important to me. I couldn’t change what happened but I could hopefully stop it from happening again.

I was walking up the stairs when I heard my name. I turned around and saw Jax walking towards me.

He stopped abruptly, about two feet in front of me. He looked angry, and I would not be intimidated by Jax. I stood taller and rolled my eyes.

“Can I help you?”

“No, but you can answer four questions for me.”

I turned and started walking up the stairs, “Make it quick, I have work to do.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what, Jax?” I unlocked the door and walked in.

“How Will died. Why didn’t you tell me?”

I sat my bag down and turned around and looked into his eyes.

“I thought you knew. I thought—”

“I didn’t. Family did and the Navy did, but I didn’t,” he poked himself in the chest. “I didn’t fucking know!”

His hands were trembling and he fisted them.

“Have a seat, Jax. I’ll get you a drink.”

“Question two.” His bark caused me to stop and turn around.

“Alright let’s hear it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you would be doing an internship where I work?”

“It didn’t come up, Jax.” I walked in and grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge.

“I think you should rethink it.” I walked in and sat down and handed him a water. “I don’t want it.”

“Okay, well explain to me why I should rethink it.”

“I work there. That’s where I train, that’s where I—”

“So what, Jax? So I should hide in my own little corner of the world so you can what? Avoid me, shun Ace for—”

“Question three!”

“No! Do you hear yourself, Jaxson Irons? It’s all about you, isn’t it? Every question is about what you want. Well, you know what, that’s not how the world works. I’m sorry you didn’t know what was found in the investigation of Will’s crash, Jax, but did you even ask anyone? And I’m sorry you don’t want me to work where you do, but that’s where Will worked too, you know.” I stood up and walked towards the door. I couldn’t even look at him. “It’s time for you to leave.”

“The fuck it is,” he growled as he walked over and slammed the door shut. “Stay the fuck away from Ace. He’s a piece of shit and if you knew—”

“I do know. He told me at lunch today. He was grieving too, Jax. He lost someone too.”

“Question four.”

“No, I don’t—”

“Did you break up with—”

“That is none of your business.”

“I told you what I would do.”

He was inches from me, and moving closer.

“Jax—”

“Break it off now. Right now, god damn it, Frankie. While I’m standing here so I know you did as you were told.”

“As I was told? Really? How well do you think that’s gonna work?” I stepped back and was against the door.

“It’ll work just fine.” He took another step towards me.

“Jax—”

His hands were on the door on each side of my head and he leaned in. “You gonna stay with him after you fucked me?”

“I was drunk.”

His eyes bore into mine trapping me in every possible way.

He leaned in and whispered in my ear, “While I was eating your pussy the next morning you were sober, sweetheart.”

I wouldn’t stand up to him while he was this close, I couldn’t move and I couldn’t stop desire’s flame from igniting. I closed my eyes, turned my head towards him and my lips touched his.

He breathed out slowly against me face and then his tongue touched my lips, I tried not to move, not to make a sound but a whimper escaped.

His lips crashed against mine and I grabbed the sides of his head. My tongue met his greedily,; ready to taste the sweetness of his mouth, a taste I had craved since our mouths last touched. His hands cupped my ass and squeezed hard as he lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he pushed me against the door. My hips rocked into his growing erection and he groaned into my mouth. I let go and reached down, pulling at his shirt like it was on fire and he needed to be freed of it. He pushed his leg between my knees as he lifted his arms, then I pulled his shirt over his head. He pulled mine off and then my bra. I pushed my rigid nipples against his chest, needing to feel his skin against mine. His mouth closed over mine as he held my hips and rocked them against his leg. I began unbuckling his belt as his hand pushed under my skirt. I continued rubbing myself against his leg as his finger circled my clit.

I unbuttoned and unzipped his pants and found he had nothing on under them. I stroked him as I tried to guide him into me. His skilled fingers continued the pleasant torture and tease until finally, “I’m gonna come, Jax. I’m gonna come.”

I tried to move, to adjust so that I could feel his massive length pounding into my core, filling me to the point than pain became pleasure but his fingers continued to move and his knee pushed up against me and I couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Oh, God, oh, yes, oh,” I pushed my mouth against his chest, knowing I was not going to be able to stop until I came down from the intoxicating high that Jax brought me to. A height I had never reached before, a peak that I would never forget.

As I panted, he pulled his hand out from under my skirt and lowered his knee allowing my feet to both touch the floor.

I held onto his obliques and rested my head on his chest. Opening my eyes I saw his beautiful cock standing straight and I pushed him back and started kissing my way slowly down his chest and belly as his cock rubbed against me. I looked up into his hooded eyes and then took him in my hand.

Jax

I
stepped back
away from Frankie and lifted her up. She looked confused, but I wasn’t. Not at all.

“When you’ve broken up with him, that’s all yours.” I pulled my pants up and adjusted myself as I buttoned and zipped. “Until then, you don’t get that part of me.”

“Go to hell, Jax.” She turned and opened the door, “And get out.”

“Stay away from Ace, and break up with your boyfriend. You have two days before I make a call.”

“And say what, ‘Hey I’ve been banging your twenty one year old daughter and’—”