Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 262: It Hurts

Mari’s eyes widened, surprise flashing across her face when Jax lifted her like she weighed nothing, his arms strong and steady under her.

”Wait—” she let out a laugh, her hands gripping his shoulders. ”Are we... are we going to your room now?”

”Yes,” he said simply, his lips tugging into a small smile.

”Finally!” She screeched happily.

Jax chuckled but said nothing as he started up the stairs with her in his arms.

Mari’s heart pounded hard against her chest. Each step up the staircase felt like it carried her deeper into something she both feared and longed for.

Was it going to be like she’d read about? Would sex with Jax be as intoxicating as their kisses were? Would the first thrust that breaks her hymen be very painful?

Definitely it was pain that she could bear, after all so many women all over the world had been deflowered and if they could bear it, then so could she.

Heat bloomed in her face as she imagined Jax’s naked body over hers, and she pressed her cheek against him, her breath uneven.

When they reached his room, she braced herself, fully expecting him to lower her onto his bed. Her fingers curled tight, her lips parted in shaky anticipation. But Jax didn’t head toward the bed. Instead, he walked straight to the other side of his room.

Mari’s brows knitted in confusion. ”Jax? Why are you going in the wrong direction?”

He chuckled as he set her gently on her feet, ”Who says it’s the wrong direction?” He asked as he crouched near the wall, reaching for something she hadn’t noticed before.

Her eyes widened as he pressed his hand against a panel and a soft click sounded.

A hidden door slid open. The light from inside spilled across the floor.

Mari gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. ”I knew there was a door here!” she exclaimed, making him chuckle.

Jax glanced at her, his voice warm and deep. ”Come.”

She followed him inside, her eyes widened at the sight before her. It was his secret studio. Canvases lined the walls, some finished, some half-done, brushes and colors scattered across wooden tables. The air carried the faint, rich scent of oil paint. The room was bright with sunlight that streamed from above them. The roof was made of glass panels that could be shifted open to let in sunlight or closed to shield the room.

Mari spun slowly, her lips parting. ”This is... this is beautiful,” she whispered in awe. ”I guess this is where you always disappear to.”

”When you overwhelm me? Yes.”

She turned to him, her voice dropping lower. ”I thought we were going to bed, though.”

Jax’s gaze held hers, unwavering. ”We will,” he said, stepping closer. ”But not just yet. I’m not in haste. I want to first show you something.”

He reached for her hand, his grip warm and steady, then guided her toward a hidden corner of the studio. Her pulse thudded louder with every step.

When they stopped, Mari’s breath caught in her throat as the paintings that hung all over the wall came into view.

They were of her.

Different poses. Different moods. Her laughing. Her thoughtful. Her eyes soft, her lips caught mid-smile.

Her chest rose and fell as she stepped forward, unable to stop herself from reaching out. Her fingertips hovered over the painted surface.

Behind her, Jax moved closer until his chest brushed her back. His hand slid around her waist. His voice was low, husky against her ear.

”Whenever thoughts of you clouded my mind to the point that I couldn’t think of anything else,” he said, ”I painted you.”

Mari’s lips parted but no words came out as her gaze travelled over the wall at all the pictures that hung there.

Jax gently turned her to face him. His expression was raw, unguarded. ”I wanted you to understand how passionate I am about you before I take you to bed.”

Although her heart was racing, her lips curled into a shaky smile, unable to contain the emotion surging in her. ”This is an incredible turn on, you know?”

He searched her face, his tone rough with need. ”Don’t my feelings for you scare you?”

Mari shook her head, her voice steady and sure. ”This is the only kind of love I’d settle for.”

And before he could respond, she rose on her toes and pressed her mouth to his, not lightly, but hard, desperate, and full of heat.

Jax groaned against her lips, his arms closing around her as he kissed her back with equal fire. The kiss deepened quickly, each breath stolen, each touch burning hotter.

When his lips finally tore from hers, his voice was ragged. ”We should probably go back to the room now.”

But Mari shook her head, her eyes wild with desire. ”No. Here. I want you to make love to me right here. In the room where you imagined me the most.”

”Mari—” he began, his brows furrowing. ”It’s your first time.”

”That’s exactly why,” she whispered fiercely, her hand sliding up his chest, her body pressing flush against his. ”I want it here. Surrounded by your paintings of me. Knowing how much you’ve desired me. That’s the biggest turn on of all. I want you to have me here.”

His control wavered, his breath harsh as he searched her face. For a long moment, silence stretched between them—until he finally gave in.

”Alright. Give me a moment,” he said as he walked away.

By the time he returned with a blanket and two pillows, Mari was standing in front of the paintings completely naked, with her hair flowing down her back.

She turned when she heard his sharp intake of breath, and she smiled shyly at him as his gaze washed over her.

”You’re beautiful,” he breathed.

Mari grinned breathlessly as she walked over and took the thick blanket from him. She dragged it across the floor, and spread it out beneath the glow of the studio lights.

Jax watched breathlessly as she lowered herself onto it, and struck a sexy pose.

”You’re driving me crazy, Mari,” he said as she motioned him forward with her fore finger.

Without another word, Jax took off his clothes, and Mari swallowed as she took in size.

She didn’t have enough time to admire his body before he went on his knees beside her, and with slow reverence, he began to worship her body. His hands and lips moved carefully, learning her body like it was a fragile piece of art.

Mari’s breath came fast, her chest rising and falling as Jax’s lips brushed her skin. Each kiss felt like wild fire.

Her fingers gripped the blanket under her as Jax kissed his way from her toes up to the spot between her legs.

Her heart beat so loud she could hear it in her ears. ”Jax...” she breathed, her voice trembling.

He lifted his head, his eyes dark but tender. For a moment, silence filled the room. ”Relax, I’ll take care of you.”

She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

He pleasured her with his lips and fingers until her body arched and shook, a cry tearing from her lips before she could stop it.

Her hand shot down to grip his hair, her knuckles white, her breaths sharp and broken. She had never felt anything like this before— not even when he pleasured her with his fingers the other night.

Her body was no longer hers, every nerve burned, and every thought was drowned in waves of rapid heat.

When she finally stilled, trembling and dazed, Jax kissed her inner thigh softly and moved up to her face. He brushed her damp hair back, his lips touching her forehead.

”You’re perfect,” he whispered.

Mari blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glassy. ”I’ve never felt anything like that.”

”That’s only the beginning,” he said huskily and leaned in to kiss her.

”Wait! I want to touch you,” she said, but he shook his head.

”After now. I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold out if you do that now,” he said, and she nodded.

Mari tensed as his weight lowered over hers. Fear mixed with want, and her hands pressed against his chest.

Jax stilled at once. His lips hovered above hers. ”Love... look at me.”

Her eyes met his.

”I’ll be gentle,” he whispered. ”But if you’re not ready yet, we can wait.”

She shook her head. ”I don’t want to wait. I want this. I’ve wanted it since I set my eyes on you.”

Jax kissed her nose, then her lips softly, until her body relaxed under his, then he slowly thrust in.

Mari’s lips parted in a soft cry when she felt the sharp sting, and her eyes squeezed shut. The pain was real, sharper than she had imagined.

Jax stilled at once, his forehead pressed against hers though his body didn’t rest on hers. ”Does it hurt a lot?” His voice was tender, almost breaking.

Mari swallowed hard, her body trembling as she nodded. ”It hurts...”

”Do you want me to pull out?” He asked, but she shook her head. ”Alright. I’ll wait. Tell me when to move. No hurry.”

Her nails dug lightly into his shoulders, and she nodded, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.

Jax kissed them away, whispering, ”I’m sorry, I don’t mean to hurt you.”

”I know.” She forced a smile and took a deep breath as the edge of the pain began to soften. The sting slowly melted into a strange fullness, foreign but not unbearable.

Her grip on him changed, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away. Her breath hitched. ”Okay... I think you can move.”

He obeyed, slow and careful, watching her face, kissing her cheek, her lips, her throat—giving her something sweet to cover the ache.

Bit by bit, the pain gave way to heat. Her hips shifted on their own, meeting his, and she let out a sound she had never made before—half gasp, half moan.

Jax groaned softly, his own restraint fraying. ”You feel so good.”

Her hands tangled in his hair, tugging, holding. ”Don’t stop,” she whispered, her voice shaking but certain as she kissed him.

Their bodies found a rhythm, slow at first, then deeper, each movement building, each breath mixing into the other.

It was fire and tenderness twined together, a rhythm that left them both undone. Mari’s soft cries turned into pleas, and Jax’s low groans filled the studio.

The pain was gone now, replaced by waves of pleasure that left her trembling. She clung to him, her nails digging into his back, her lips pressed to his ear.

”Jax—”

”I love you, Maribel,” he whispered back, his voice rough, his body moving with hers, giving and taking, loving and worshiping until the world seemed to break apart around them.

The painted faces of Mari seemed to watch over them, silent witnesses to a love finally set free.