Jax (Cocky Cage Fighter Series) (16 page)

After what we just did together...I don't want Page thinking it's just sex between us. That I just wanted to get off. She deserves more than that, and for the first time in my life I actually want more than that.

"Yeah. Let's go," I agree, leading the way out the room to the elevator and hitting the down arrow.

"Are we okay?" Page asks softly to Jude. "Can you tell?"

"Other than your cheeks being a little pink, his lips looking redder than normal, and my cock being hard as a rock, we're fine."

"Thanks." She laughs as we step into the elevator and head for the lobby.

"Where's Dad?" I ask.

"He was getting the valet to bring the car around, so we should be able to leave as soon as we get down."

"Good."

When the door opens we walk quickly to the front where our ride waits. At least the courthouse is only a few blocks over.

After Page climbs in the back, I shove Jude toward the front so I can sit with her.

"Really, Jax?" my dad grumbles as soon as everyone’s in and all the doors shut.

"What?" I ask innocently.

"You know exactly what," he replies, maneuvering the car away from the curb. "You both better be damn careful."

"Remember, don't make any comments to the media, and let me talk if the judge or prosecutor asks any questions," Page says to me. It's impossible to look at her luscious mouth now without thinking about my cock in it. Her dress is riding up her thighs and all I want to do is throw her down and fuck her until she screams my name again.

"Don't look at me," I tell her, adjusting the growing bulge in my pants.

"What?" she asks, glancing down at my hand on my cock.

"When I look at you…I can't help thinking about...earlier."

"Geez," my dad mutters, putting the signal on for the courthouse parking lot. I try not to stress about all the media vans lining the street.

"Oh God, everyone's going to know," Page mumbles, covering her face with both hands.

"Just forget about the polygraph and go back to treating me like I'm an angry asshole who is guilty."

"Yes! Okay, I'll try to do that." She nods.        

"And I'll go back to treating you like a spoiled, elitist bitch."

"Hey!" she exclaims, whipping her head in my direction indignantly.

"This can work, see? You're such a pampered princess, thinking you're better than everyone."

Her eyes narrow at me when the SUV comes to a stop in a parking spot. "And you are a stubborn jerk who won't consider a plea deal even though it's your best chance of getting out of jail before your thirtieth birthday," she responds.

"I'm not fucking pleading!"

"Yeah, this is much better." She exhales. "We might be able to do this after all. You ready?"

Even though she just managed to royally piss me off, I still have to stop myself from reaching for her hand in comfort. Instead I take a deep breath and open the car door.

I'm instantly greeted with cameras, microphones and questions being hurled at me faster than an MLB catcher.

"Excuse me," I say as politely as possible as I push my way through toward the courthouse entrance. I don't wait for Page, figuring it’s best to keep my distance. When some of the reporters yell Jude's name to ask him questions, at least I know he's right behind me.

After we make it up the steps and through the front doors things calm down. There are more reporters roped off at the entrance, but no cameras allowed thankfully. My dad catches up with us and we have to empty our pockets and go through a set of metal detectors. On the other side I finally turn to find Page.

Talking to the horde of vultures she looks confident and composed with her shoulders squared and chin raised. She's so damn sexy it hurts.

"Look away," Jude mutters quietly beside me. I know he's right so I turn my back to her.

"Let's go," Page says a minute later, not slowing down when she walks past us, her heels clicking loudly on the hard floor with her sure and purposeful stride. Of course I follow her, right down the hallway and through the double doors of the courtroom. It's filled with people in every row, plenty of which seem to be fans who had actually made posters and shit. Huh, quickly reading a few of them, they all think I’m innocent. That’s good to know.

Page finds some room for us on one of the front reserved rows and sits down with me beside her, and Jude and my dad on my other side. I can feel everyone's stares on the back of my head, or more likely on Page.

The raised bench where the judge usually sits is empty, but a man I assume is District Attorney Franklin begins yelling out a roll call of some sort.

"I'll answer for you," Page whispers under her breath.

I notice some of the people speak for themselves, others have attorneys who stand up and respond on their behalf.

Finally he gets to the middle of the alphabet and calls, "Malone, Jackson."

"Present and represented by Page Davenport today," she says, and then retakes her seat.

"Today?" I ask, since it sounded like she meant it might be someone else tomorrow.

"We'll discuss it later," she snaps under her breath, barely moving her mouth.

Damn right we would. She isn't bailing on me just because we'd gotten each other off.

Apparently typical court administrative procedures are boring. After what feels like hours have passed, Judge Bray comes in and DA Franklin eventually calls my name again.

"Let's go. Don't speak unless I okay it," Page reminds me before heading through the gate at the front of the bar, right up to a table on the left side. Page stands behind the first seat, so I stand behind the other one.

"Mr. Malone, you've been indicted by the Atlantic City Grand Jury on charges of First Degree Rape and Assault by Strangulation. Have you been informed of your right to counsel?" the judge asks.

"Yes, your Honor," Page barely mutters under her breath and I repeat it.

"And have you retained your own counsel, or do you wish to have a court appointed attorney assigned to your case?"

"I've retained my own counsel," Page coaches softly and I echo.

"Your Honor, my name is Page Davenport of Davenport & Davenport and I've been retained to represent Mr. Malone. If your Honor pleases, I'd like to give notice of my limited appearance on his behalf today."

Limited? Does that mean what I think it does?

"I beg your pardon Ms. Davenport, but I'm ready to proceed with Mr. Malone's arraignment today. I don't usually allow a case to go forward until the defendant has secured counsel ready to make a general appearance. So either you make a general appearance today or we'll appoint counsel for Mr. Malone."

I don't know what all that means, but it must have freaked Page out because I hear her gasp, although probably no one else notices.

She looks down at the table for a second before her confidence returns. "Yes, your Honor. Then I will offer my general appearance on the record today so that we can proceed."

"Thank you, Ms. Davenport. You appearance is noted for record. Now, Mr. Franklin, we're ready to hear from the State."

"Yes, your Honor," Franklin, the District Attorney, says when he stands up at his table beside ours. "The defendant, Jackson Malone, has been indicted on charges of First Degree Rape and Assault by Strangulation. The Grand Jury found probable cause to believe that he did forcibly engage in vaginal and oral sex against the victim's will, and with the assistance of a dangerous weapon, more specifically, overpowering the victim using his superior strength to strangle her with his bare hands."

Holy shit, that sounds bad.

"Does the defendant understand the charges as they have been stated against him?" Judge Bray asks.

"Yes, your Honor," Page replies.

"And at this time, how does the defendant plead?"

"He pleads not guilty, your Honor, and would like to proceed with a jury trial," she answers.

"Very well," the judge replies and then glances down in front of him. "Let's go ahead and calendar the case for the July seventh term of court. Any objections from the defendant or the state?"

"No, your Honor," Page responds.

"No objection, your Honor," District Attorney Franklin answers. 

"Motions will be due two weeks from today, on June sixteenth, and all responses to motions are due three weeks from today, on June twenty-third. We'll have a hearing on any motions or allow for a change of plea on June thirtieth at nine a.m. Mr. Franklin, does the state wish to ask for another detention hearing?"

"No, your Honor. The defendant has already posted a fifty thousand dollar secured bond, and voluntarily appeared today, so at this time the State will not request detention."

Page lets out a breath, so I take that to be a good thing.

"All right. Let's move on. Mr. Franklin, call your next case."

Before I know it Page is already walking off toward the swinging gate without me. I follow and she nods toward the back when she looks over at Jude and my dad, which I take to mean we're leaving. Thank fuck. This shit is stressing me the hell out.

When we step out into the hallway Page turns to me. "Go ahead on to the car with your dad and Jude. Don’t talk to anyone or make any statements."

"What are you going to do?" I ask.

She digs in her briefcase and holds up a manila envelope. "I need to drop this off by the DA's office, then I'll meet you out there."

"You sure you'll be okay by yourself?" I ask.

"Yeah, it won't take but a second."

"I'd rather wait for you."

"Fine," she says through clenched teeth, then she takes off down the hall.

"Whew, glad that's over," Jude says from beside me.

"I'm sorry it was so goddamn stressful for you," I respond sarcastically.

"Both of you hush," Dad hisses. “Eyes and ears everywhere.”

"Page will be right back then we can leave," I tell them.

"Incoming," Jude says before a herd of women converge on us with loud squeals and more
OMGs
than a teenager's text message log.

"I am such a huge fan," one of the blondes at the front says to me as she invades my personal space. "I know you're innocent and the slut is lying about all that shit. Can I have your autograph?"

"Um, sure," I agree with a polite smile.

Handing me a black marker she holds out her shirt on which I scribble my name quickly across the bottom.

After her they come one right after another wanting pictures or autographs. A few even give me phone numbers and offer to fuck me. It isn't unusual, but now it just feels…inappropriate. Every few seconds I scan the growing crowd of people until I finally spot Page. Annnd...based on her narrowed eyes and pursed lips, she looks pissed.

"Thank you all for your support," I say as I walk away from them, moving toward her.

"Ready?" I ask.

She narrows her blue eyes and turns away, starting toward the exit without a word.

"Jude!" I yell for him and he extracts himself from a group of women. Hell, even my dad is talking to two older ladies.

I brace myself for what waits just outside and walk quickly through the parking lot, looking forward to getting away from this place and being alone again with Page. After we're in the car pulling away I finally can’t hold it in any longer.

"What the hell was that about?" I ask her.

"It doesn't matter. I'm stuck representing you now," Page replies, staring out her window. "And I told you to stay away from women, especially in the freaking courthouse!"

"Stuck representing me? That's nice fucking phrasing. You were trying to get out, weren't you?"

"I should withdraw. I
need
to withdraw. I'm clearly conflicted out."

"If you get out then I'm fucked," I tell her.

"I could still help with the case, just not try it. Ryan should be the one to try it anyways. I don't know what I'm doing and I'm going to screw it all up," she says with a shake of her beautiful head.

I finally give into the urge and reach for her hand.

"There's no one that can do this better, so stop trying to bail on me."

"Then don't do this," she replies, pulling her hand out from under mine.

Motherfucker
. She's gone back to ice princess mode. Screw that.

I hold my tongue on the way back to the hotel, through the lobby, and on the elevator. I don't say a word while I wait for Page to pull out her keycard. Then it's on.

I press my body against her back and hear her gasp. Wrapping one arm around her waist, I run the other one up the front of her thigh, heading underneath her dress. Her entire body shivers but she doesn't protest.

When the lights on the door finally flash green I pull on the handle and lift her forward into the room to get us out of the hallway. As soon as her feet hit the floor I yank her panties down and off so I can cup her bare pussy.