41
ETHAN
Outside Jackson’s luxury suite, fans fill the arena, taking their seats, while hype music blares from the speakers.
“You don’t need to baby me.” Aurora stands between my open legs, her hands on her hips and her jaw set. She’s poised for an argument, but I’m too damn happy to see her. It’s not often I get time alone with her.
She changed into a jersey dress and matching blue Converse, her hair in a high ponytail and her lips painted an alluring matte red. She’d be more convincing if she didn’t look precisely like something I wanted to baby and spoil—then give a hand necklace to while I fucked her six ways to Sunday.
My dick perks up at the fantasy. I may have a sex hangover from the fuck-fest we had in the shower. Is that a thing? Because I’m incapable of being in a shitty mood.
An indecent smile spreads across my lips. I wrap my arms around her and guide her onto my lap. “Are you being stubborn today? Did you forget our deal?” I place my hand on her rounded stomach. “I absolutely will baby you. That’s my job.” I kiss her forehead.
She runs her fingers up the back of my neck and into my hair. “Then don’t either of you gripe about me being spoiled and blame it on Jackson.”
Hugging her closer, I breathe in her sweet scent. “Oh yeah? Has Reece been spoiling you?”
He texted me on the way and asked if I’d meet him in Jackson’s suite—without Jackson. He gave me a quick synopsis of what had happened with Hugo then left to talk with his partner while I stayed with Aurora.
To be honest, I expected this. Maybe not today, and I half expected it’d be Jax getting arrested without Kyle alive to protect him, but I’ve been preparing for the inevitable.
I had only hoped Hugo wasn’t stupid enough to go after Aurora directly. He did, and she’s unharmed and still her sassy self. I’m grateful.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still fucking pissed and have every intention of dealing with the bastard.
“Reece agreed to take me to the bookstore when it was risky and only complained I was distracting him. He’s rather spoiling or placating me.”
I cock a brow. “ Were you distracting him?”
A flicker of uncertainty crosses her face as her eyes search mine. “He wouldn’t let me.”
This is why we have Reece—this is why he’s with her.
He’d sacrifice himself, his pleasure, and any chance of a relationship to keep her safe and happy.
I saw it when he let Jax beat the shit out of him, knowing if he fought back, Aurora would despise him.
Recently, when he said he was leaving, it was to prevent Jax from being triggered because it was better for her .
And tonight, he called in reinforcements despite the likelihood of questions.
At my silence, her frown deepens, and her head dips.
With two fingers under her chin, I raise her gaze to mine. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m waiting for you to choke me for being too friendly with Reece.”
“I thought I was clear on this. We need Reece as a family. I gave you permission. Why would I be mad?”
She hesitates. “What if he leaves?”
“Is he taking you with him? ’Cause then I’d be mad.” I hold her stare. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
She shakes her head. “No, of course not.”
“Without you, he won’t leave, and I guarantee he told you as much, or you wouldn’t be distracting him.”
Her fingers play with my hair anxiously. “And Jax?”
“I’ll handle him.” I grab her cheeks and plant a kiss on her lips, adding a playful bite. “No one is mad at you or placating you.”
She releases a soft sigh. “What’s going to happen?”
“Don’t worry about it, remember?” I move my hand to her throat and caress the delicate curve of her neck. “I’ll take care of it. Your job is to care for yourself and my baby.”
She melts into my touch, her eyes heavy-lidded. “Reece thinks we need additional security.”
“ Reece needs to stop telling you things. I’m already on it. Are you afraid…of Hugo?”
Her pulse races against my palm. “Jax is afraid. This is why he’s been moody and not sleeping, right? If he’s afraid, it must be bad.”
Jax lives in fear, and I don’t know how he does it. Some of his fears are unresolved from childhood. He sees them as monsters, but they’re just men. They can fall like the rest of us.
“I promise I won’t let anything happen to you or Jax.”
She lays her head on my shoulder, getting comfortable on my chest.
“There’s a lot I don’t understand,” she says through a yawn. “I’m certain Hugo was a client of Emily’s. I saw them together at Kyle’s party. She talked about him. If everything is true, why would she date him? She hated Jax because of Kyle. She must’ve known.”
My sweet, sweet girl.
“Baby.” I brush my fingers over her cheek. “Did you ever wonder if Emily disliked Jax because he showed her no interest?”
Maybe a part of Emily didn’t want Aurora involved with Kyle, but I doubt it. All I’ve seen from her is jealousy.
“I don’t know,” she mumbles, the softness in her voice suggesting sadness more than confusion.That, and she’s exhausted.
“What do you need, love?”
“Pizza. I promised Reece pizza, and then I had a panic attack. I ruined it.”
“No, you didn’t. You did well. I’m proud of you. I’ll get Reece a pizza.”
She faces me, brows raised. “You’re in an oddly cheerful mood, Blackwood.”
My head tips back in laughter. “You’re healthy. My baby is healthy. Our family is safe, and I fucked the most amazing woman last night.”
She smiles. “Oh, really? That good, huh?”
“Fucking fantastic.” I brush her hair aside to kiss her throat.
The door opens, and I brace myself for an irate Jax, who’s supposed to be with Doc. Instead, it’s Reece.
His gaze immediately finds Aurora, sweeping over her as he flips his hat backward. I wonder if he does that for her.
“What’s the plan?” I check my watch. “I only have a few minutes.”
He drops into a chair. “Charlie and another agent are headed to the house?—”
Just as Reece is about to speak further, Jax bursts into the room.
He’s not even in uniform, only basketball shorts, a T-shirt, socks, and sneakers. His hair is damp from either the shower or sweat, and his chest rises and falls rapidly. His face is twisted with anger.
Until he lays eyes on Aurora.
Then, his expression softens, and his shoulders slump in relief. His palm goes to his heart, and he doubles over, gripping the back of a chair for support.
“Oh my God,” he pants as if he sprinted here from the locker room, which wouldn’t surprise me at all. “Holy fuck.” He blows out a heavy breath. “I thought you were with Patty.”
No, he fucking didn’t.
Aurora’s penetrating gaze connects with mine, her body rigid in my embrace.
I shake my head, but before I can explain, he continues to run his damned mouth.
“She’s nowhere to be found either, by the way.” He thrusts a hand in the air and huffs. “I may have accidentally broken into her office looking for you.”
Aurora climbs off my lap and backs away from me . Her lips are parted, eyes wide.
Heat sears my face and ears. “Don’t listen to him. It’s not what you think. Patty is a woman from PR?—”
“Who wants his dick,” Jax finishes, putting considerable emphasis on dick .
I jolt to my feet. “No, she doesn’t! Shut your fucking mouth for once.”
He rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest. “Please. I heard her giggling ”—he draws out the word, as if it means something far more sinister—“in your office. She’s practically begging for it.”
That’s what this is about? I couldn’t wait to get rid of Patty. Reece’s text was a godsend. I left right after.
Aurora sucks in a sharp breath and rubs her sternum with her fist.
Forget Hugo. I’m going to murder Jax.
With my hand out, I step toward her, and she steps toward Reece. He smirks and draws her to him.
I drop my arm to my side. “She was showing me pictures from earlier today—of the players holding puppies. She drives a fucking minivan! She probably has kids and a husband.”
Maybe she’s recently divorced. Maybe she knows I’m divorced. Maybe she’s aware of my history—that is her job, after all—but I have no idea why Patty is suddenly interested in me.
“How do you know what she drives?” Aurora’s gentle voice is elevated. She’s working herself into a panic.
I point a finger in Jackson’s direction. “ He told me!”
“Only because I planned to light it on fire if she continued to flirt with you!”
Reece has the audacity to snicker while Aurora appears horrified.
I glare at Jax and growl, “Why are you like this?” through clenched teeth, attempting to gain some composure. “Please tell me you didn’t set her van on fire.”
His lip curls and his brows lower in incredulity. “I wouldn’t set her van on fire during a game. I’m not an idiot.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” I shoot back.
A thought comes out of nowhere. Is this what he was like with Aurora? When they first started dating? But I toss it aside—that’d be ridiculous and crazy for him to turn that intensity on me.
And obsessive.
Right up his alley.
“Is she cute, Jax?” Aurora asks, her tone stronger but still apprehensive.
“No. She’s not,” I cut in. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing is happening—except for your husband skating laps until his legs break. Or I break them. One or the other.”
He shrugs off my threat. “Anyhow. Why are you all meeting without me?” He flops into the chair across from Reece as if he didn’t barge in here and provoke Aurora’s insecurities.
“No. We’re not brushing this aside.” With every word I speak, my irritation grows—and here I thought nothing could kill my post-sex vibe. I gesture to Aurora, whose face is tight with worry. “You deliberately upset her to retaliate against me for something that exists solely in your imagination.”
He clenches his jaw. His demeanor shifts, becoming rigid and indifferent, but I know him. He’s anything but indifferent.
“Whatever. Just tell me what the fuck is going on.”
I don’t miss the flicker of hurt in his eyes. It stabs at my chest, but I can’t allow him to keep using her as his outlet for anger.