Allie
“Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?”
I glance over at Jax, watching his biceps flex as he folds the thick chocolate chip cookie dough.
Wrinkling my nose, I shrug. “I don’t need a honeymoon. I’m just happy enough being married to you.”
He tilts his head toward me, eyes catching mine even as he keeps folding. “Oh, come on, Al. Everyone wants a honeymoon.”
“I’d be happy with just a family vacation,” I admit.
And I mean it. I don’t need a vacation—or even a new set of rings.
These guitar string ones Jax made with his own two hands?
They’re perfect. Even if I have to wear it for the rest of my life around my neck instead of on my actual finger.
And I definitely don’t need fancy trips, or the flashy in your face engagement rings.
I just need him.
I slide the tray of cookies into the oven and set the timer.
The feel of Jax’s arms sliding around my sides surprises me, but in a good, grounding sort of way.
I lean back against him as his hands settle on my belly where soon enough I won’t even be able to bend to put cookies in the oven as easily.
Assuming I get as big as I did with the girls, anyway.
I turn in his arms, pressing my cheek to his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat. He smooths a hand over my hair and kisses the top of my head, and we just stand there as husband and wife.
Husband and wife.
God, that feels surreal.
“I can’t believe we got married,” I murmur, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. “We’re married.”
That crooked smile, the one that still gives me butterflies, spreads across his face. “You’re bloody right we are, love,” he says softly, then kisses me just as gently.
But the softness doesn’t last. The kiss deepens to something more intense, more insistent. I don’t know who starts it, only that suddenly Jax is scooping me up as if I weigh nothing.
My legs instinctively wrap around his waist as he carries me to the kitchen table and sets me down.
I brace myself on the edge, not even caring that I’m probably smearing chocolate chips all over my brand-new white wedding dress. Thankfully, it cost next to nothing at the thrift store, but that’s beside the point.
My lips leave his, trailing down to his neck, where I gently pull the skin between my teeth, nibbling softly. Jax’s hands run up my thighs, not stopping until his fingers are hooked around my panties and I carefully lift my ass enough for him to slide them off.
My hands fly to his belt buckle, quickly snapping it off and unzipping him as quickly as I can. I free him, wrapping my hand firmly around his length. He hisses through his teeth, a sound that feels like music to my ears.
His hands slip between my ass and the table, and I instinctively press my palms into the table behind me to support my weight as he nudges me closer to the edge.
Our eyes stay locked while he guides himself inside of me, slower than usual.
Though, it’s still enough to send my head falling back and my eyes rolling shut.
My ankles cross behind his back, tightening with every thrust as he grunts into my ear.
The second Jax reaches between us, and presses his thumb onto my clit, it’s like everything shatters around me. I bite my lip, swallowing the cry that threatens to escape.
Another low grunt rumbles from Jax before he murmurs, “God. It’s like ever since you became my wife, you somehow feel even better.”
His hips connect with mine one last time before he tenses. A bead of sweat trickles down his cheek as our eyes lock, chests heaving in perfect sync.
Then the timer for the cookies goes off, scaring both of us to death.
That and the sound of thundering footsteps coming downstairs.
Jax pulls out fast, his face suddenly looking pale as he hurriedly tucks himself away, slides my panties back up my legs and helps me off the table.
Ana rushes into the kitchen, nearly slipping on spilled flour, and her gaze snaps to us. Her eyes narrow, practically screaming that she knows exactly what just went down. Jax was already pretty pale, but right now? I’m fairly sure I’m practically see-through.
God, I can’t believe we just did that. Where we eat dinner. Where my daughters eat dinner. Where Ana could’ve walked in and gotten a free show.
Thank God the girls are with Trevor today.
Ana plants her hands on her hips while I smooth out my dress and slap on my best innocent face.
“Were you planning on warning me?” she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.
I squeeze the back of my neck and glance at Jax, who looks absolutely mortified. “Uh, w-warning you about what?” I stammer, chuckling nervously.
Her arm sweeps across the kitchen. “That you were making chocolate chip cookies?”
I hear Jax snort before pulling the cookies from the oven.
My smile grows, but I do my best to tone it down, knowing she’ll absolutely ask why we’re laughing so much. “Uh, yeah. They just need to cool down.”
She tsks, strolls to the stove, and scoops up a still-melting cookie with zero care for how hot they are. She plops it on a napkin and takes a bite, anyway.
“They’re perfect straight out of the oven,” she says with a shrug, then heads for the doorway.
But her head pops back in almost immediately.
“Oh, and by the way,” she adds with a growing grin, “you’ve got chocolate chips smeared on your ass…
and on the table.” She winks—winks!—then scurries out, leaving Jax and me to die of embarrassment.
I can see his eyes tearing up from holding back laughter.
“Don’t even say it,” I warn, pointing at him.
He holds his hands up in mock surrender. “I haven’t said a thing.”
“You don’t need to! Not with that smirk,” I shoot back, laughing despite myself.
Walking past him, I grab the spatula from the counter and start transferring cookies onto a dish.
Jax finally lets out the laugh he’s been holding in, loud and unrestrained.
I glance at him, catching how he’s clutching his stomach, his shoulders shaking. Before I realize it, I’m laughing too. Really laughing.
But then my phone rings, cutting through the noise and immediately silencing both of us.
I look over and see Nora’s name flash across the screen, and I’d be lying if I said my stomach doesn’t drop. The deja vu feeling nearly takes over, the electric shock down my spine, the way it feels like I was transported into a bubble and everything’s too loud.
It transports me right back to Boston. To keeping secrets, to splintered friendships, and wrecked cars.
What if Gareth told her before I got the chance to?
“Everything okay, Al?” Jax asks beside me, and I jump slightly.
“Uh—yeah. I think so.” I wipe my hands on a towel, staring at the phone like it might explode. “It’s just Nora.”
He raises a brow. “Nora calling makes you jump like that?”
Apparently, now it does.
I take a deep breath and swipe to answer. “Hey, Nor. What’s up?”
“Allie!” she practically sings into the phone. “Please tell me it’s true!”
I freeze. “Tell you what’s true?”
“That you got married! Don’t even try to deny it—Gareth already told me.”
Suddenly the room feels like it’s shrinking. “Nora, I was going to tell you, I just—things happened fast and—”
“Oh, stop it.” She laughs. “I’m not mad, babe. I’m so happy for you. About time you let yourself have something good.”
I blink, taken aback by her reaction. So marrying someone in secret is okay, but screwing them is where she draws the line. Good to know.
My eyes flick to Jax who’s watching me like he’s ready to swoop in with a mop when I combust into tears.
“You’re really not upset?” I ask.
“Of course not, babe! I mean… I know I got upset before, but that was on me. I’ve learned a lot since then. I’m really happy for you and Jax—you both deserve this,” she gushes.
Now I’m wondering if she knows about the baby, but part of me isn’t ready to talk about that yet. Not ready to jinx everything at once.
“Thanks, Nor. We really appreciate that.”
“No problem! Tell Jax I said hi—and I expect a full wedding recap when I visit.”
She hangs up before I can even say goodbye.
Jax’s eyebrow lifts as he watches me gently place the phone screen down on the counter.
“Everything okay?” he asks carefully.
I nod. “Things are… great,” I say with a small shrug.
Just like they’re supposed to be. Because that’s how people should react to good news. Even if it takes a little while to get there.
Hopefully that’s the reaction we’ll get when we’re ready to tell people about the baby.