jp-hendrix-blog

[jp-hendrix-blog]

“I do, love,” he said, reaching over the side of the kiddie pool for one of the many bottles of water he’d brought out. The first piece of popcorn caught him off guard, but he caught the second in his mouth. Jaden turned towards Izzy and fiddled with the blanket. “I have to tell you something.”

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

A smile spread across his face and Jaden’s eyes lit up. “Izzy and I are great, actually. She’s letting me inch my way to her heart and I can touch her without her flinching now. She doesn’t keep things from me anymore. I haven’t told her about me being beta though... I should probably do that the next time I see her...” His eyes became hooded as the thought clouded his mind. “I agree though. I can’t wait for a child to be around.”

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

“I am going to,” he smiled. “That’s what family does for family, Nash.” His eyes lit up at the mention of a toddler. “A little kid is coming too?” His voice was small and innocent. The thought of a child running around made his heart flutter. “I can’t wait to see the little baby. You won’t have to worry about me having to make them feel welcomed, Nash. I’ll do my best. And I’ll see if Izzy will be willing to do the same.” He couldn’t help but think about having his own children one day; hopefully, running around like the toddler would be.

[jp-hendrix-blog]

“I am going to,” he smiled. “That’s what family does for family, Nash.” His eyes lit up at the mention of a toddler. “A little kid is coming too?” His voice was small and innocent. The thought of a child running around made his heart flutter. “I can’t wait to see the little baby. You won’t have to worry about me having to make them feel welcomed, Nash. I’ll do my best. And I’ll see if Izzy will be willing to do the same.” He couldn’t help but think about having his own children one day; hopefully, running around like the toddler would be.

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

His lips formed trails across her face, down her collarbone, on her eyelids, her fingertips. Anything that he could get ahold of, Jaden was kissing. He felt her pull herself closer to him. The urgency within it almost dire. Jaden pulled back, looking into her swollen, lustful eyes. “Let’s watch the stars, my love, and enjoy each other’s company. Thirsty?”

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

The corners of his mouth turned upward as he sensed the nervousness about her. Something in her was different, but Jaden wasn’t sure what it was. It was she who made the move to come closer, although he had told her so. He thought she’d act like normally and just brush it off as before. The kiss was unlike any other. It was electrifying. Jaden felt in his bones, in his brain, in his heart. It made him yearn for her. Izzy’s words rang in his ears like a melody. She finally felt safe around him. That’s all he ever wanted from her. Tears formed on the brims of his lids as a smile caressed his mouth. Jaden’s arms entangled themselves around her body and pulled her closer. Kisses formed a trail to her ear. “That’s all I ever wanted. For you to know that you are safe with me.” 

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

Jaden smiled. “I think twenty thousand should do in order to get things started. If we need more, I can give more.” He tilted his beer back and finished off the rest. A sigh escaped his lips. Obtaining a trainer wouldn’t be too difficult, but it wasn’t an easy task either. He couldn’t think of any that would be willing to help. “What if...,” he started, “what if one of us became a trainer until we could obtain one? We know what’s required and what is necessary. One of us can do it. We can get certified.” His face glowed as he mulled it over in his ever-working mind. “It’s brilliant, Nash. And Greyson pack? Who knew you were royalty? Gonna have to start calling you ‘sir’ and ‘your highness’,” he joked. “But that’s awesome. I’m glad that they’re coming up. We really can use the numbers and I’m sure that they have knowledge of things that we don’t know about.”

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

Izzy looked stunning when she returned in sweats and a tee. Her hair had been pulled back into a messy bun onto the top of her head. Carrying blankets and pillows, it was hard to distinguish which was which from her petite body. Jaden laughed and laid next to her once she made herself comfortable. Under the blankets and the light dusting of stars, Izzy had managed to snuggle her way close to him. This was the first time that he could think of that she allowed herself to be this close to him without flinching or doing something to let him know she was uncomfortable. And God, was it amazing. “It is nice, isn’t it?” He responded in a low murmur. Her hair smelt like rain and saltwater; Jaden didn’t know what to think of it, other than it comforted him. “I don’t want you to have to worry, Iz. Tonight it just about relaxing and looking up at the stars.” A smile spread across his face. “You are most welcome, ma’lady,” he whispered against her forehead. “I know it’s tough at first. I want to say I know what you’re going through, but honestly I don’t. My heart’s only been stomped on, but not broken or beaten. You are stronger than you will ever know, Isabelle Putnam. If time and patience and understanding is what you need, that’s okay by me.” Jaden wrapped his one arm around her shoulder and the other lingered on her waist. “Kiss me.”

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

He nodded as he heard the specific: Tweak what you wish. Of course, Jaden totally understood what it meant with all the legal obligations. He didn’t blame Nash for not wanting to deal with the, only being nineteen or twenty. “Agreed with too much effort, but there’s got to be at least some trust. That’s why you’re forming the pack.”

Jaden listened. He had money stashed away for rainy day projects; he’d also come into some money when his parents died. “I’ve got some to give. I make enough to support myself on the income I earn at the college. I don’t see why I can’t give some to the cause as well.” He paused, “I’m sure Foster also understands what it’s like to be a new pack, or in a new pack. Although, I haven’t spoken to the man myself, he seems to have a decent air about him. We will do what we can, with what we can and in an allotted time. You need to remember why you started this, Nash; you’ve just got to finish it now.” A smile formed across his face. “From Arizona, eh?”

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

It was nice to see him smile; it’d been too long since Jaden seen Nash somewhat show any emotion. “Isabelle is doing alright. Sometimes I accidentally slip up and do something that reminds her of Blake, but she tells me and I fix it. Or I try to, at least. She’s adapting extremely well. There was once or twice where she slipped off without telling anyone where she was going in the beginning, but she stopped that. And as far as I can tell, Iz hasn’t had any nightmares. Or she isn’t telling me about them.” It was good to talk about Izzy to someone other than his best friend. Someone who knew her a little better than Jason did. He sighed. “I don’t like pressuring her into anything. I want her to know that if and when she’s ready to talk to me or anything, that she can. I don’t want her to associate me with the type of guy Blake is. I don’t want her thinking that all men are like that.”

Taking the piece of paper from Nash, he began to look over it as he spoke. Nodding in the correct moments, Jaden totally agreed to this. “I don’t have a problem stepping up. Just tell me what I need to do and I’ll do it. I think this will work with some more tweaks. There needs to a part explaining what the punishments are and whatnot. And why not legally binding? Do I need to help with Foster? And yes, I apologize.”

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

He let her pull him towards the car, towards home. The entire ride back, Jaden kept stealing glances at Izzy. Something inside of him clicked. It just made more sense to be around her. Everything was better, brighter, clearer. “There’ll be popcorn, love. There will be anything you want there to be.” He smiled at her as they pulled into the drive. Going into the house to grab a blanket and some pillows, he began to set up camp outside. While the pool was filling up, Jaden went into the kitchen to get the popcorn started. With everything completed, he offered Izzy a spot in the pool-turned bed. 

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

“That’d be awesome if she could.” Jaden smiled when he mentioned Eve’s love for art. It sounded like his love of English. “You don’t understand? It’s alright, man. I’d probably feel the same way if someone did that to me.” He paused and pondered for a moment. “I haven’t seen her around. I’ve just been curious as to where she’s been.”

brotherly reunion

[jp-hendrix-blog]

He handed over the beer, glad that he’d brought it. “Not a problem.” Sitting across from him, he made himself comfortable. “Yeah, I’ve been alright. I can’t complain too much. I’ve been so busy with the school and Izzy, I haven’t had much time to breathe.” A smile sprawled across his lips. “I’ve been training in my down time. And the shifts have gotten a little easier. The pain hasn’t gone completely away though.” Jaden looked up and sighed. He could tell something was up. “Hey, you aren’t a failure of a friend. We’re both adults. We’ve got our own shit going on; I know that you’ve been busy doing your thing. I come to you when I can, when I know you’re able to talk.” He took a swig of his beer. Miller Lite wasn’t his favorite, but Jaden didn’t care. He needed something to take the edge off of work. “I’ve been swamped. You’ve been swamped. So, tell me. What’s going on, Alpha?”

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

His hand snaked around her shoulder and Jaden placed a kiss onto of her head when she did so. “That sounds wonderful to me. I know the perfect place for stargazing.” His eyes met hers and his heart began to beat harder, faster, louder. “Every time I look into your eyes, it’s like I’ve seen the entire galaxy. Yet, for some reason, I’ve seem to miss something and I need revisit over and over. Or I can’t get enough of the stars that have made my perpetual darkness brighter.” He slowly placed his hands under her jaw and tilted her face upward. Jaden blushed and sighed deeply, inhaling her scent. His eye lingered on hers for a moment longer before he kissed her, slowly. Then more fiercely. His hands moved from her jaw to her waist, picking her up and spinning her gently. Jaden smirked mid-kiss. “Come on, Iz. Let’s go find a dark area to watch the stars. Maybe the backyard? I’ve got a blow-up pool. We can fill it with pillows and blankets then just lay underneath the stars. And it’ll be alright if we fall asleep there because we’ll be home and you won’t have to rush in the morning cause the sunrise will wake us.” He sighed. “We could watch the sun rise together that way too.”

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden

[jp-hendrix-blog]

He smiled. “You should ask her. I think it’d be really cool if that could happen. Ya know? And I’m sorry, but that was totally random of me.” He paused for a moment. “Have you noticed anything different lately?”

brotherly reunion

[jp-hendrix-blog]

Uh, what...? | Nash & Jaden

+nash-etheridge

College kicked Jaden’s ass again, in the literal way. He’d been swamped at work with papers since the spring semester was coming to an end and the seven varying classes that he taught had different assignments, all of which needed to be graded and put into the computer before the end of next week. He’d barely made it inside the house before he heard an aggravated sigh come from Nash’s office. Jaden nodded; he hadn’t spoken to the man in at least three weeks or something like that. He seriously couldn’t remember anymore. His time was spent between college, Izzy and personal time to sleep and train. Heading up stairs, he dropped the backpack and briefcase onto the bed, making an umph sound. Jaden rubbed his temples and sighed. Walking out of the room, he headed to the kitchen and grabbed two beers. Opening both, he then proceeded to head towards Nash’s office. He wasn’t sure if Nash would accept the offer, but he was going to offer. 

The door was cracked and Jaden peeked in before entering. Nash was hunched over piles of papers. One hand on his head, the other scribbling furiously. He tapped on the frame before pushing open the door. A soft click was heard as it made contact with the wall behind it. Nash didn’t seem to notice Jaden standing in the doorway. “Nash?”

[jp-hendrix-blog]

[jp-hendrix-blog]

He agreed with her; it smelt divine. Putting the car in park, he walked over to her door and opened it. “The pleasure is all mine.” A smile lit his face. “By the way, that shade of red suits your cheeks,” he murmured into her ear as she walked in front of him. Bubbles danced inside his stomach and chest. Holding the wooden door open, Jaden ushered Izzy inside. “It’s wherever you’d like to sit, ma’lady.” A waiter greeted them with warm eyes and a hazy voice. Trailing Izzy, he held her hand. Fingers interlaced, scents filling his nose, murmurs cooed in the background, he sighed. 

Dinner went by quicker than he would’ve liked. The night had grown colder than it’s day counterpart. Slipping his sweater off, he placed it onto Izzy’s shoulders. “Where would you like to go from here, little one?”

You look lovely | Izzy & Jaden