Chapter 21 - Taevin
Now
I’m not sure why I’m so nervous right now. It’s not like it’s the first time I’m meeting Jax’s family. But it is the first time anyone aside from his mom has met me as his wife . . . his estranged wife, who didn’t even know we were still married.
And we’re not the only ones going to Jackson’s brother’s house—the entire team will also be there for their captain’s annual preseason cookout.
Ugh. No wonder I’m so worked up.
God, I could use a drink right now but I’m not supposed to drink while preparing for my egg retrieval.
These damned injections hurt like a bitch.
I’m on day eleven of two shots per day to try to stimulate my ovaries to produce as many eggs as possible for my retrieval that’s scheduled in only a few days.
With shaking hands, I finish applying a second coat of mascara to my eyelashes before putting the tube away in the vanity drawer.
When I close it, I hold onto the edge of the counter for a moment and consider all the details Jax thought of when he was building this home.
It’s weird that for a guest bathroom he’d have such an extravagant set up with a custom vanity and the dreamiest soaking tub that could comfortably fit two people.
Grabbing my phone and my crossbody bag off the bench at the foot of the bed, I take a deep breath and walk out of the room, shutting the lights off as I go.
I walk into the kitchen and Jax startles me by saying, “T, relax. You look like you’re about to throw up, and we both know that won’t feel good with your healing stomach incisions.
” He looks so good standing there in the corner with a glass of water in his thick hands, legs crossed casually as the afternoon sun highlights him through the windows above the kitchen sink.
Jeesh, I really do have a shit poker face.
“I’m good,” I lie, unconvincingly I guess, because Jax guffaw’s at me.
“You look tense. Come here, baby.” Jackson sets down his glass and gestures for me to come into his arms. Setting my things on the kitchen island, I move to him and melt into his embrace as he pulls me into chest and rocks me lovingly back and forth.
Jax rubs his hands up and down my back, and the simple act wouldn’t be soothing if it were anyone else. But when it’s his hands on me, my body comes to life responding in ways it hasn’t in far too long. Placing a kiss on my temple, he murmurs, “What’s got you feeling anxious?”
I bury my head into his chest and mumble, “Oh, I don’t know. Only the fact that I’ll be meeting your entire team at the same time as I’m reacquainted with your brother, sister, and best friends.”
“Ah, that? That’s nothing. I thought you were anxious about the fact that I’m going to have to participate in the annual Labor Day food eating competition.”
I shoot my head up to look at him. “The what?”
“It’s so stupid but a few years ago, the guys started this ridiculous competition where we eat foods that aren’t overtly sexual in nature until we eat them. It’s gotten out of hand at this point.”
“Must’ve for you to say that. So, what are you eating this year?”
“Papayas.”
I let out an unattractive snort as I laugh at the image playing in my mind of a group of grown men eating papayas.
“Ha ha, laugh it up,” Jax says, feigning annoyance.
Once I’ve somewhat composed myself, I ask, “I’m sorry did you say papayas?”
“I did. And we’ve even got to eat them with our hands behind our backs.”
“Oh my god, this is going to be so good.”
“It should be, so long as you pay close attention.” Jax waggles his brows and I just roll my eyes.
“There she is. It pains me to admit this, but I much prefer your sassy eye rolls to the anxious look you were wearing when you came in here.”
I playfully swat at his chest and move to grab my things when he pulls me back in and wraps an arm around my waist, placing the other along my jaw. “Where you going?” he questions.
“Nowhere,” I reply breathlessly.
“Good, because I’m feeling needy for your lips.”
“Is that so?”
“Mhmm,” he murmurs, brushing his lips against mine in a whisper of a kiss. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss we can both get lost in. Our lips collide in a clash of burning need that can only be satiated by one another.
Ever since we kissed again for the first time nearly two weeks ago, things have certainly shifted between us.
It’s almost like no time has passed and we’re picking back up right where we left off.
Though, I can’t entirely say that’s true for me.
For Jackson, sure, but that’s only because he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.
Each time he kisses me, and with each passing day where he looks at me with stars in his eyes, I fall into a deeper pit of debilitating guilt.
I’m snapped from my downward spiral when Jackson spins me, backing me up until I’m pressed against the corner of the kitchen cabinets, and without missing a beat, he carefully lifts me and places me on the countertop that chills my heated skin.
His hands grip my hips and I love the way his fingers dip beneath the hem of my shirt, testing me—tantalizing me—in the most delicious way. I wish for his fingers to drift higher moments before he grants my silent plea.
“Jax!” I gasp when he brushes his fingers over my nipple. The slight touch is taunting, making me want to turn this game of teasing right back on him.
“I see these are still as sensitive as they’ve always been,” he rasps against my neck as he tweaks my nipple with his fingers, driving me wild with need.
“Tell me, Thorn, do you think I can make you come just from nipple play?” Jax asks, and with how sensitive they’ve been due to the medication, I have complete faith that he could get me there.
Arching my back, I give him better access to do just that with my nipples, and in doing so, my hips inch forward until I find myself grinding against him.
“T,” he groans as he thrusts his hips into me, gripping my hip tighter with his one hand while the other masterfully plays with my nipples, rolling, tweaking, and kneading them.
When his mouth latches on to the spot of sensitive skin just beneath my jaw, I moan into his ear and quicken the pace of our hips.
The combination of it all has me so on edge, so worked up, I feel as tight as a guitar string, my stomach pulls taught with desire.
Longing. Aching. Need like I’ve never known courses through me and threatens to pull me under.
Lifting my shirt and bra up, he brings his mouth to my nipple, sucking it with a quick pop before blowing on it and doing the same to the other.
When Jax latches onto one and then slides his hand off my hip and instead uses his thumb to rub rough circles over my clit, so I can feel it through the thin fabric of my skirt, white hot pleasure blinds my vision and I go off, coming harder than I have in years.
I breathlessly ride out my orgasm, desperately grasping onto the euphoria for as long as I can.
Once I’m thoroughly satiated, Jax lets go of my nipple with a pop and gives me a mischievous smirk. “I love the needy little whimpers you make just before you come.”
I slowly push his shirt over his head. Not wanting to receive without giving him the same pleasure in return, I make quick work of unbuckling his belt and unbuttoning his shorts.
Thank god he doesn’t try to stop me when I push down his boxers and shorts enough so I can firmly grip his hard length in my hand.
“If I recall, I’m not the only one who whimpers while I’m on the brink,” I tell him.
He chuckles roughly, his chest rumbling against mine until it cuts off abruptly when I roll my thumb over the head of his cock, using the precum he’s leaking as lubricant. Knowing it won’t be enough, I spit onto the palm of my hand and resume pumping his length.
“Fuck, baby.” He drops his head against my shoulder as he ruts into my hand, turning me on so badly with his loss of control. “Having you touch me again feels so perfect—so fucking right.”
“I can’t wait to have you fuck me again, J,” I whisper into his ear. Continuing to pump him, I ask, “Whose cock is this?”
“Yours,” he answers without hesitation. “Fuuuucck, always yours,” he groans as I work his head and brush my thumb lightly over the thick vein on the underside of his cock—the one I used to love running my tongue over again and again until he lost all control.
“Good answer. And who’s making you feel so good?”
“You,” he whimpers, quickening his pace. “My beautiful wife is making me feel so fucking good. Too good. Taevin, baby, I’m gonna come,” he warns moments before my hand and upper thigh are covered with his release.
Dragging my finger over my thigh, I take great pleasure in watching his eyes darken as I bring his release to my lips and suck my finger clean.
“Mmm, I almost forgot how good you taste,” I hum before pulling him in for a kiss.
“When can I taste you again?” he asks against my lips.
Pulling my head back, I keep my arms wrapped around his neck, raking my fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck. “I’m not supposed to for six weeks.”
“That’s just penetration though, right? You just had an orgasm and it didn’t hurt, did it?” he questions with an edge of apprehension.
“I did, and it didn’t,” I confirm at the same time as my pussy clenches in anticipation for the possibilities that are to come. Bringing him in for another kiss, I drag my finger tips over the scruff on his jaw. Pulling back, I tell him, “You never could grow facial hair when we were together.”
He lifts his brows suggestively. “There’s a lot that’s different about me now, baby.”
“I can see that,” I retort, trailing my fingers down the column of his throat, across his chest and over his tattoos on his shoulder before moving them farther down to trace the flock of ravens just above his hip bone.