Resisting jax a dark rev.., p.1
Resisting Jax: A Dark Reverse Harem Romance, page 1
Resisting Jax
Calia Quinn
CQ DARK ROMANCE
Copyright © [2023] by [CALIA QUINN]
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact [caliaquinn@caliaquin.com].
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Book Cover by [slmcreations]
Contents
Dedication
AUTHOR CW
AUTHOR NOTE
1. PART I JAKSON KANE
2. CHAPTER ONE JACKSON KANE
CARA
3. CHAPTER TWO GIRLS NIGHT OUT
CARA
Samantha
Essie
Sophie
Sarah
4. CHAPTER THREE DOUBLE DARES
CARA
5. CHAPTER FOUR CARA ROBERTS
JAX
6. CHAPTER FIVE BRUNCH
CARA
7. CHAPTER SIX MONDAY BLUES
CARA
8. PART II SEDUCED BY THE DEVIL
9. CHAPTER SEVEN A STRANGE OCCURANCE
CARA
10. CHAPTER EIGHT BUSINESS DINNER
CARA
11. CHAPTER NINE SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
JAX
12. CHAPTER TEN DRESS TO IMPRESS
CARA
13. CHAPTER ELEVEN BUINESS CONFERENCE
CARA
14. CHAPTER TWELVE GOODBYE LONDON
CARA
15. PART III THE KANE BROTHERS
16. CHAPTER THIRTEEN ELIJAH
ELIJAH
17. CHAPTER FOURTEEN BAK AT THE OFFICE
JAX
18. CHAPTER FIFTEEN THEN THERE WERE THREE
CARA
19. CHAPTER SIXTEEN I CAN'T DO THAT CAN I?
CARA
20. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN RIVER KANE
CARA
21. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
CARA
22. CHAPTER NINETEEN LUCA KANE
LUCA
23. CHAPTER TWENTY POSSESSIVELY THEIRS
CARA
24. PART IV WALKNG AWAY IS EASY, RIGHT?
25. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE SAYING GOODBYE
CARA
26. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO WHERE IS OUR GIRL?
JAX
27. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE WHO PUT THE FUN IN FUNERALS?
CARA
28. CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR UNINVITED PARTY
CARA
29. CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE FEAR DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
CARA
30. CHAPTER TWENTY SIX TRICKED
RIVER
31. PART V DRAG ME TO HELL
32. CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN THIS MUST BE HELL
CARA
33. CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT WE ARE ALL SOMEONE'S VILLAIN
CALEB
34. CHAPTER TWENTY NINE IT'S YOU
CARA
35. CHAPTER THIRTY JUST A TOY HE LIKES TO PLAY WITH
CARA
36. CHAPTER THIRTY ONE YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE GAME
CARA
37. CHAPTER THIRTY TWO THE BIG FINALE
ESSIE
38. PART VI GOODBYE OAK HAVEN
39. CHAPTER THIRTY THREE BACK WHERE IT STARTED
LUCA
LUCA’S FLASHBACK
40. CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR HEY, HONEY I'M HOME
JAX
41. CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE GHOSTS NEVER LEAVE
CARA
42. CHAPTER THIRTY SIX BLOOD DOESN'T MEAN FAMILY
LUCA
43. CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN I FOUND YOU AT LAST
ELIJAH
44. CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT LET IT BURN
ESSIE
45. EPILOGUE FINALLY FREE
CARA
HUNGRY FOR MORE?
About the Author
To the girls who believe in second chances, following their hearts and taking that leap no matter how scary it may be.
Maybe the thought of those morally grey heroes you envision in books, the one's you think don't exist.
Maybe they are right around the corner.
After all, love is patient.
AUTHOR CW
Resisting Jax is a reverse harem romance that is only suitable for adults age 18+ due to the adult themes in the content, even though this book does have strong themes, it does have a HEA.
Even though as the author I would much prefer you to go into this book blind. I do however understand that everyone’s tastes are different and I would not want to be the cause of any underlying triggers for you the reader.
you can find a list of CW here: https://caliaquinn.com/shop/
AUTHOR NOTE
Are you still here?
Of course you are, you naughty girl.
Sit down, relax
And turn that page like a….
GOOD GIRL.
THE KANE BROTHERS ARE WAITING…
PART I
JAKSON KANE
Could beauty tame the beast?
I’m no good for her.
I know I’m no good for her but I want her anyway.
I want her before I crawl back into the darkness.
I know it’s wrong.
She’s like a butterfly.
She’s calling me home.
Can you really step into the light, when you’ve lived in the dark for so long?
CHAPTER ONE
JACKSON KANE
CARA
Jax is also known as Jackson Kane. I just preferred to refer to him as Mr. Grumpy Pants. I’m not sure when his apparent distaste for me started. All I know is that each time he sees me, that smile instantly slips, and it’s like he’s sucking on sour grapes.
“Oh, hottie alert, hottie alert.” Essie squeals excitedly.
“You say the same thing every day.” I roll my eyes while the rest of the office erupts into girlish laughter.
I had thought about leaving numerous times, but after working here for seven years, the girls were more like family than colleagues, and the thought of starting over again just gave me a nauseous feeling. So what if my boss hated me? It’s not like I had to put up with him for 12 hours a day, I think, with a grimace.
“So you’re telling me if Jax walked up to you looking like sin, looking deep into your eyes challenging you to leap, you wouldn’t grab that man with both hands and finally taste heaven?” Samantha challenges.
Samantha was always risque of our little group. Her bright blue eyes twinkle at me, challenging me to respond, and her wavy, sun-kissed blond hair waves around while she cackles with the other girls.
“I wouldn’t piss on Jax if he was on fire.” I spit out.
The sounds of laughter that had spread across the office instantly died down. You would have thought someone had died.
It was deathly silent.
My comment can’t have shaken them to silence.
It was just another day in the office.
Spinning my chair around, I’m met with a steely grey gaze that freezes me to the spot.
“Cara, my office now.” Jax growls, never taking that stone-cold glare off of me until I rise from my seat and slowly follow him towards his office.
“You done it now, girl.” I hear Essie whisper as I pass by the shocked group of women.
The walk to his office takes forever, and all I can hear is the click-clack of my red heels as they hit the stone floor.
He doesn’t look back, not once, to make sure I’m still following him, but why would he? Nobody says no to Jackson Kane.
Walking into his office, the air felt stiff somehow, or maybe that is just how I felt because even though I hated working with the grump, I didn’t want to lose my job over some girlish banter.
What was I supposed to say when Samantha challenged me? Even though he was the grumpiest bastard I had ever met, I often thought about what his large, calloused hands would feel between my legs. Shit, no, don’t think of that now, the heat travels up my face, and I can feel the sting from the burn on my face.
He sits, pushing those fat fingers across his plump lips, his gaze still steely, looking at me curiously. I half expect him to tear me a new one, but he stares back at me as I sit at his desk.
Neither one of us says a word.
I’m mesmerised by the slow movement his finger makes across that lip. I can’t peel my eyes away from him. Taking my bottom lip gently between my teeth, I wonder how heavenly the grump tastes.
“Wouldn’t piss on me if I was on fire.” He raises a curious brow.
“I didn’t mean that. It’s just—you know what it’s like out there.”
“I’m afraid I don’t, Cara. Why don’t you enlighten me.” I’m sure I see the faint hint of a smirk as he moves his fingers across the dusted stubble that adorns his face.
“Jax—.”
“See, you speak to me like you don’t hate me, yet you wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire.” Once more, that bloody eyebrow raises. I would love to walk around this desk and shave that bloody eyebrow from his face, but then he couldn’t raise that bloody thing in my direction.
“It was just—.” And I’
“Relax, I wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire either.”
Charming.
“That is not why I called you in here.”
“It’s not?”
“Cute, that you’d think I give a shit about your nonsensical office babble, but no.”
“Then, what was that?”
“Fun?”
“Fun? So, that’s how you get your kicks, Mr. Kane, by making women squirm in your office.”
His once steely gaze holds something else. I almost think I see a flash of darkness, but as quickly as it comes, it’s gone.
“I need you to accompany me in London. I have a few important meetings and will need an assistant. Do you think you can handle that?”
“Me? You’re asking someone who wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire.”
“Yes, well, Cara, that’s part of the charm. None of those women can string a sentence together when I ask them a question, so you seem like the lesser evil.”
“I—I would be honoured, Mr Kane.”
“You can call me Jax again, Cara; you’re not in trouble.” A smirk finally appears on his lips. I’m glad I can amuse the grump.
He stands and walks to the front of the desk, leaning across the mahogany desk with his arms folded. His dark hair falls across his eyes but doesn’t disguise the steely gaze he gives me. The conversation is over. He’s probably waiting for me to leave.
Standing, I rock on my heels and can feel the impending doom of my face splatting on the ground, but as my shaky legs wobble, it’s so much worse. I topple forward and crash into Jax’s hard body, and sweet baby Jesus, does he smell like the darkest sin? His hands wrap around my arms with little to no effort; he plants me firmly on my feet, looking up at him. That steely gaze bores into mine.
“I sure hope you can put one foot in front of the other in London.” He seemed annoyed, but I couldn’t blame him. I had just crash-landed into his body. Nervous laughter falls from my throat. “Monday then, Miss Roberts, a car will pick you up.” I nod because I have nothing else to contribute, and his scent makes my head whirl.
How was I supposed to survive three days with my sinful grumpy boss?
Turning, I shoot out of his office and finally collapse against the door. A gulp of air enters my lungs, and I can finally breathe. Had I been holding my breath the entire time? It sure felt like it.
“He has that effect on most women.” Sarah smiles.
“He leaves an impression,” I utter.
“I have emailed you the itinerary for your trip. Everything is in there.”
“Thank you,” I smile,” you’re a lifesaver.”
“Just doing my job.”
“You coming out tonight?” I ask Sarah.
“You’re still going out?”
“After that, I think I need a stiff drink, plus it’s Friday; what else would I do,” I smirk.
“You know who they invited, don’t you?” Her large brown eyes twinkle against her dark skin. Her midnight black hair swishes on the head of her shoulders against her midnight blue pantsuit.
“They didn’t?” I open my mouth in horror.
“Oh, they did.” She laughs.
“Why? He never comes.”
“God loves a trier, babe.”
“Probably best he stays away anyway. The grump would probably kill the mood.” I walk away with Sarah’s laughter echoing behind me and sit back in my chair, ready to crush some numbers. I feel eyes burning a hole through my back.
“You’re still here?” Essie asks.
“Where else would I be?” I smirk.
Suddenly, I’m surrounded by a group of vultures hovering over me. I groaned; they would never let me get back to work until I divulged what they deemed office gossip, but I knew once I told them that the chatter would never cease, and I would never hear the end of it.
“Spill.” Samantha grins.
“There isn’t much to tell.” I try to act nonchalant.
“Don’t give me that.”
“If I tell you, will you let me get back to work?” They all nodded their agreement, but somehow, that didn’t seem possible. “He offered me to go to London on Monday as his assistant.”
“You and Jax…alone,” Essie utters, trying to hide her disappointment, but it was evident on her face.
“Well, I’m guessing there will be other people there, and it sounds boring, but as I had just insulted him, I thought the best thing to do was to agree.” They all nod their agreement.
“Guess you aren’t coming tonight?” Samantha pouts.
“Three days with that great grump, of course, I’m coming.”
“You know who else might be coming.” Essie excitedly announces.
“Oh, babe, you invite him every week, and he’s a no-show every week. Plus, can you imagine Jax on a night out,” I roll my eyes, “he would probably complain the entire night and glare at everyone in sight. Best the boss stays a no-show, uh.”
“One day, he might surprise you.” Essie offers.
“Well, hopefully, that isn’t tonight.” I wink.
The chatter dies down, but I can still hear their hushed whispers as I pound my fingers on the keyboard, trying to focus on the job, but I can’t.
It’s almost impossible.
The only thing I can think of is how heavenly his body felt pressed against mine, the warmth of his hands on my arms spread across my body nearly instantly, and the scent of Jax is something I will never get used to. I can still feel the tingling between my legs at the proximity of being near Jax.
I try to push all those sinful thoughts out of my head, but my head is swirling. The ticking of the clock is like the death of time. Tick-tock, the sound pummels my eardrums, and it feels like the day will never end.
Looking over the itinerary of our three-day trip, I suddenly wished I had refused his offer of being his assistant. I had to spend all of my time with Jax. How was I going to handle that? I barely lasted 10 minutes in his office.
I thought back to when I first started at Jackson Realty. I was qualified; I had spent five years at University studying business management but hadn’t quite managed to rank up to my expertise level. It was my dream to work in corporate. I loved numbers, and I was very competitive, and as a fast-paced company, it was exactly what I had been searching for.
I was repeatedly told my talents were wasted here. A rival of Jax’s company had headhunted me a few years back, but I had kindly refused. It was better pay, better company benefits and on paper, it was perfect, but you didn’t see many companies run the way this one was. It was like we were all a family. Nobody had left when I was here, and everyone who came here felt right at home. I had a sneaky suspicion that they didn’t leave because of Jax.
I, of course, understood where they were coming from. I wasn’t immune to Jax’s charms. Although it appeared, he had no charm on the surface. A man like that didn’t need to. It was just something about him. His aura may be addicting and sinful, like carbs. Yes, Jax was like carbs, bad for you but oh so fucking delicious. You knew you’d regret eating them but needed to eat them anyway.
