Chapter Nineteen
Jax
I straightened my tie and ran a hand through my hair, trying to compose myself after what had just happened in that cramped bathroom. My cock was still throbbing, the memory of her soft skin under my hands, the way she'd ground against me like a needy little thing, playing on repeat in my mind.
I made my way into Leo’s small bedroom and watched him pick between his books, helping him pick between them when asked. My phone buzzed against my thigh again, and I pulled it out to find the group chat lighting up:
Adrian
So have you changed your mind about burning down her building yet?
I had to admit, the idea was only becoming more tempting.
Jax
Not tonight. I’m being a gentleman.
Connor
You? A gentleman?
Adrian
Plot twist: The teacher whipped him into a good boy.
I nearly groaned out loud.
Jax
Stop projecting, puppy.
Adrian
OH, how is the babysitting going? The kid liked sharks?
Jax
Dinosaurs, not sharks. They’re very different.
Adrian
Awww Uncle Jax is getting all protective!
Connor
Don’t. His ego is already bigger than the fucking sun.
I smirked.
Jax
My ego’s earned. Unlike the discount Batman thing you have going on.
Adrian
DISCOUNT BATMAN
IM CRYING
Connor stopped typing for a good few minutes, and I was dying—riling up that grump was always a trip. Bee would probably have to calm him down.
Speaking of Bee, the image of both our girls getting along floated through my mind, the two of them watching our fights together, drinking good champagne in our houses .
I looked back down at my screen:
Connor
Fuck you. Sierra said to say Thor has better hair than you.
I snickered. So Bee came to his rescue, huh? The traitor.
Adrian
OMG Bee won. Bee won, it’s over.
Adrian
But SERIOUSLY, no torching anything tonight? Not even a little something?
Jax
Depends on tonight I guess.
Connor
She won’t run from you when her apartment lights up?
Jax
She won’t be running anywhere.
Adrian
If she does, RIP Jax’s dating life 2025-2025.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket, grinning despite myself. Those bastards knew exactly how to get under my skin, but they weren't wrong about one thing—tonight was going to be fun.
A smirk tugged at my lips. I couldn’t wait to introduce my princess to my family, especially my father. He’ll think the world has turned upside down, seeing me settle down—Connor too.
He was all our father in some way, but the man didn’t exactly expect us to be the settling-down type after the way he’d taught us to be predators.
Finally, Leo’s bedroom door opened, and in walked my princess.
The emerald Dior clung to her body, highlighting every delicate curve I'd just had my hands on.
The sweetheart neckline framed her small breasts perfectly—the same breasts I'd just been touching, feeling her nipples harden under my thumbs.
The high slit revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her thigh with each step, and the way the fabric moved with her body was hypnotic.
But it was her face that nearly brought me to my knees. Her cheeks were still flushed from our encounter, her lips slightly swollen from where she'd been biting them. Her honey eyes held a new awareness, a heat that hadn't been there before.
"Elle!" Leo exclaimed from his spot on the bed, his eyes going wide. "You look like a real princess!"
Her face softened as she looked at her nephew, that fierce protective love shining in her eyes. "Thank you, buddy," she smiled, moving to sit on the edge of his bed.
She pressed a gentle kiss to the top of his head, her hand smoothing his hair. "You be good for Avery and Elsie, okay?"
"I will," he promised, then looked at me with serious five-year-old eyes. "Take good care of Elle, Mr. Lion.”
The simple request hit me harder than any punch I'd ever taken. He was so young to be thinking of his aunt before his playdate.
"Always, champ. That's a promise."
I moved to Estelle's side, my hand finding the small of her back. "Come on, princess. Let me finish getting you ready."
She stood, and I guided her toward the living room, my palm warm against the silk covering her spine. In the better lighting, she looked even more breathtaking, and I had to resist the urge to pull her against me and finish what we'd started in that bathroom.
"Sit.” I gestured to the worn couch. "Let me put your shoes on."
She perched on the edge, and I knelt before her with the red shoebox, my heart hammering as I lifted the lid.
The Louboutins were nestled in tissue paper like precious jewels—black silk with the signature red soles that would mark her as mine with every step.
I took her right foot in my hands, cradling it. Her skin was warm, soft, and I couldn't resist stroking my thumb over her ankle bone .
“Such pretty feet,” I murmured, my voice dropping to that intimate register.
I slid the heel on slowly, savoring the way the black silk hugged her foot, the way the delicate ankle strap wrapped around her skin.
My fingers lingered as I fastened the buckle, adjusting it carefully. The red sole flashed as I positioned her foot, and the sight sent possessive satisfaction surging through me.
"How does it feel?" I asked, my hands still cradling her ankle.
“Fancy,” she whispered.
With her left foot, I took even more time. I traced the arch with my fingertips, feeling the delicate bones beneath the soft skin. Her breath hitched when I pressed my thumb against her sole, feeling all of her precious self.
I fastened the ankle strap with deliberate care, my fingers brushing against her skin with each adjustment. The urge to press my lips to the top of her foot was overwhelming, and this time I didn't resist.
I leaned down and kissed the soft skin, feeling her sharp intake of breath.
The red soles caught the light as she shifted slightly, speechless, and I had to bite back another groan. She was wearing my shoes now, marked with my choice, claimed in yet another way.
"One more thing.” I finally released her feet and reached into my jacket pocket, pulling out the jewelry box and opening it to reveal the silver chain inside.
This was my version of a collar—elegant but unmistakable, the silver chain designed to sit snug against her throat. The "J" pendant was prominent, crafted from silver and diamonds that cost tens of thousands.
“Wow,” she breathed, her fingers fluttering to her throat. "It's beautiful, but I can't?—"
"You can," I interrupted, standing and moving behind her. "And you will."
I gathered her hair in my hands, lifting it to expose the nape of her neck. The chain was thin but sturdy, dainty just like the slender of her throat.
"This isn't just jewelry, princess," I told her as I fastened the clasp. "It's a promise."
The choker settled against her throat perfectly, the "J" pendant resting in the hollow above her collarbones. It was snug enough to be felt but not uncomfortable—a constant reminder of who she now belonged to.
"There.” My hands rested on her shoulders as I admired my handiwork in the reflection of the dark window. "Now the world knows you’re mine.”
She touched the necklace with trembling fingers, and I could see the understanding in her eyes. This wasn't just a gift—it was a collar. Beautiful, expensive, but a collar nonetheless.
"It’s…” she started quietly.
"It's perfect," I corrected, my hands tightening possessively on her shoulders. "Just like you."
The weight of the diamonds against her throat, the way it caught the light with every breath, was everything I'd imagined and more. She was marked now.
We gathered Leo's overnight bag, going through his checklist of essentials. I watched Estelle fuss over each item, her protective instincts on full display. She was such a good guardian, so fierce in her love for him.
We made our way to the car, and I had to bite back a grin watching her navigate the uneven street in her new heels. She wobbled slightly with each step, clearly unused to the added height, her hand gripping my arm for balance.
The Louboutins looked incredible on her feet, but she moved like a newborn deer learning to walk. It was adorable and strangely heated, her having no choice but to rely on me .
"Easy, princess," I coaxed, my hand never leaving her waist, steadying her over every crack in the sidewalk. "Take your time."
"These shoes are ridiculous," she muttered, but there was no real complaint in her voice. "How do women walk in these things?"
"Practice," I mused, savoring each small touch, each moment she needed me for support. The possessive pride I felt seeing her in the dress I'd chosen, the shoes I'd placed on her feet, the necklace bearing my initial around her throat, was unraveling me.
In the car, I caught her subtly checking her reflection in the visor mirror, a small smile playing at her lips. She touched the choker at her throat, adjusted the dress's neckline, and smoothed her hair.
She was pleased, I realized. Pleased with how she looked, with the gifts, with me. The knowledge sent a surge of satisfaction through me so intense it bordered on euphoria. She was feeling truly beautiful.
The drive to Jovie's was filled with Leo's excited questions about the sleepover, but I was more focused on Estelle beside me.
The emerald silk shifted against her thighs when she crossed her legs, and her fingers occasionally drifted to trace the "J" at her throat, like she were testing its weight, its presence.
Every small movement was hypnotic.
When we pulled up to Jovie's mansion, I spotted my sister and Elsie waiting at the entry, Avery bouncing excitedly beside them. I helped Estelle out, my hand holding her tightly as we walked up the smooth path. She still moved carefully in her heels, but she was getting the hang of it.
Mostly since I was carrying her weight with each step we took, and I loved it.
"Wow, Ms. Estelle!" Avery exclaimed as we approached. "You look like a princess!"
Estelle laughed, the sound warming something in my chest. "That's what Leo said, too."
Her grip tightened on my arm as we got closer, and her eyes darted between Jovie and Elsie with barely concealed anxiety. She was nervous about leaving Leo with people she didn't really know .
Jovie's eyes met mine over Estelle's head, one eyebrow raised in silent communication.
I knew that look—the "we'll definitely talk about this later" look we shared through childhood.
I ignored it, focusing instead on the feel of Estelle beside me, the way she leaned into my touch despite her nerves.
"Estelle," Jovie greeted warmly, stepping forward with a genuine smile. "You look absolutely stunning. That dress is perfect on you."
"Thank you," Estelle replied, but I could hear the tension in her voice.
Elsie approached with her usual maternal warmth. “Lovely seeing you again, Dear. I’ve been telling Jovie all about Leo.”
"He loves dinosaurs," Estelle said, her protective instincts clearly warring with politeness. "He's... he's never stayed overnight anywhere without me before."
I felt her uncertainty like a physical thing. "Jovie is the responsible one,” I said quietly, my hand moving to the small of Estelle's back. "And Elsie raised us both.”
Jovie nodded, understanding immediately. “Jax gave me your number, and I promise to call if anything happens. Even if he just gets homesick."
"I've raised these two since they were born,” Elsie added gently. "And helped with countless others when they got older. Leo will be safe and happy, I promise you that."
I watched Estelle's shoulders relax slightly, though her eyes still held worry.
"We've got it all covered," Jovie assured her. "Avery's already planned their entire evening. Fort building, movies, and she's promised to share her favorite bedtime stories."
The children's goodbyes were quick, their excitement for the sleepover overriding any separation anxiety. Leo gave Estelle a tight hug, whispering something in her ear that made her smile softly.
"Be good for Jovie and Elsie," she told him, smoothing his hair. "And remember, if you need anything?— "
"I'll tell Ms. Jovie to call you,” Leo finished with a smile. "I know, Elle."
After giving her one more wave, he dashed inside with Avery, and I watched Estelle's face as she fought the urge to follow. Her maternal instincts were so strong, so fierce. It made me want her even more.
Jovie lingered a moment longer, her gaze assessing as it traveled from Estelle's dress to the necklace at her throat. I saw the exact moment she noticed the choker, the way her eyebrows rose slightly.
"Have fun, you two," she teased, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Don't worry about Leo. We've got everything under control."
"Thank you for having him," Estelle breathed, genuine gratitude in her voice. "He's been looking forward to this all day."
"It's our pleasure," Jovie assured her. "Avery, too. They'll have a blast."
As we turned to leave, Jovie caught my arm, pulling me back slightly. "Be good," she whispered roughly, quiet enough that Estelle wouldn't hear, serious enough to do that ’scary sister’ thing.
"Always am," I replied with a wink, though we both knew it for the lie it was.
But for Estelle, it wasn't a lie. For her, I'd be whatever she needed me to be.