Page 243 of Conquered

“Hey,” I murmur, snuggling into him as he pulls me closer, a low rumble sounding in his chest.

“Hey, Baby Girl,” he replies, and I feel his words vibrate against my ear. “Did you find your dress?”

“She found the dress to end all dresses!” Willow exclaims, gesticulating and sending popcorn flying. I chuckle at her antics, so pleased that she’s here with us. “It’s fucking incredible.”

“I’m glad you found something, baby,” Jax tells me, a smile clear in his voice even though I can’t see his face. “I can’t wait to see you in it, even if I’m not the one putting a ring on your finger.”

My heart aches, and I sit up, pushing away so that I can look into his beautiful blue eyes. The light of the TV casts them in a kaleidoscope of blues, changing from almost navy to ice. My brows drop, my lips parting as I struggle to find the right words.

“I wish…” I start, taking a deep inhale, then releasing it slowly. “I wish I could marry all of you, officially. A part of me hurts having to marry only Ash. But it also feels so right at the same time, you know?”

He reaches out, cupping my face in his huge palm, and I can’t help but nestle into it.

“I know,” he rumbles back. “And none of us hold that against you, we know that you’d marry all of us if you could. Sure, I’m jealous as fuck that Ash drew the lucky straw, and I can’t wait to get him in the ring to take a little bit of that out on him,” he adds, an evil grin pulling up the corners of his lips that makes me worry for Ash a little. “But I’ll get over it. We’ll get over it, Baby Girl.”

I lean in, placing a gentle kiss on his lips, a sigh caressing mine as I pull away again, aware of Willow being here.

“Thank you, my love,” I whisper, his nostrils flaring and his grip around me tightening at the nickname. I love all of their reactions when I use it.

He pulls me close again, his hands stroking down my back in a soothing caress that soon has my eyes closing, his heartbeat lulling me to sleep.

JAX

I hold Lilly tightly as her body grows heavy against mine, her breathing evening out as she falls asleep under my touch. I love how she’s so comfortable now that she can do that. Trusting me to take care of her when she’s at her most vulnerable.

I meant what I told her. I wish to God it was me she was marrying, but as long as I keep getting moments like this, I’ll get over it. Especially if I can get Ash in the ring a time or two.

Willow looks over, seeing that Lilly is asleep, and quietly leaves, saying that she’ll text Lilly tomorrow.

“How’s Enzo?” Loki asks, careful to keep his voice low so as not to disturb Lilly. She stirs slightly, then settles back down when I keep rubbing her back.

“Good. Pleased about his wedding invite,” I smile, remembering Enzo’s knowing smile as he told me that he and Rosa will be there.

“Jeez, Erica works fast,” Loki comments, sounding impressed. He’s right to be, Ash and Lilly only gave her the list of invitees yesterday, and already she’d sent the invites by courier.

“How did training go? Did you get the fight moved?” Kai asks, the TV screen reflected in his glasses hiding his eyes.

“I’m almost back to where I was before,” I tell them, feeling the ache of my muscles that I’ve been working hard on lately. “Enzo managed to get it postponed until May seventh, but they wouldn’t do any later.”

Loki whistles, and I glare at him as Lilly stirs again.

“Fourteen days before the wedding...better than the day before I guess,” he comments, giving me one of his shit eating grins that tells me he’s about to say something insulting. “At least the bruising will have a chance to heal a little so you don’t look like shit in all the photos.”

I growl, grabbing a pillow and launching it at his head. He ducks, which just makes me growl again as it flies past him.

“She’ll want to come, you know that,” Kai says, and I pull the girl in question tighter against me. “We won’t be able to stop her.”

“Fuck,” Loki hisses, and I agree with him. Underground MMA fights are no place for a girl like her, especially not in her condition.

“You’ll have to all keep her safe, away from the scum,” I tell them, my lips twitching when Loki’s jaw clenches and Kai grinds his teeth.

“Of course we will keep her safe,” Loki all but snarls at me, Kai giving a sharp nod of agreement. “And if anyone so much as looks at her wrong…”

I know that my grin is as feral as both of theirs, as bloodthirsty. Some things in life are simple, at least that’s what I’ve always thought.

If anyone goes near our girl, they won’t see the sunrise.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE