Page 75 of Reputation (Toronto Royals #1)
Chapter Forty Two
Jax Four Weeks Later
Jax tossed the jersey he’d changed out of into the laundry bin in the Royals dressing room. Slipping on his dark cashmere quarter zip and dress jacket, he slid his feet into his boots and picked up his gym bag. Patting Brooks on the back, he left the dressing room and the celebrations behind.
Tonight was his first game back, having been out recovering for the last few weeks.
He’d been discharged from the hospital and sent home after two days.
For the duration of his stay, Eavie had barely left his side.
She picked up his car from the arena and drove him home after his release and helped him up to his condo, where she’d continued to nurse him through his entire recovery.
She’d only left to get a bag of clothes and when she’d had to return to the office.
When she went back to work, his mom came to stay with him, helping during the first few days when he was slow moving. Eavie would come home every evening to his place, where she stayed with him.
After the first week following his discharge, Jax started his physio with the team’s training staff and was back on the ice after another week.
His return to the game had taken a little longer, given the severity of his concussion and his age.
He hadn’t minded, though. Since he couldn’t play, he’d joined Eavie in the executive boxes for each home game.
For the away games, they watched them on his couch, Eavie curled up in his arms exactly where she belonged.
Once Jax had been given the all-clear to play again, Eavie had gathered her things from his place.
He’d tried to convince her to stay, but she insisted she return to her apartment.
As much as she liked being there with him, she was too independent and said it was too early for them to be half-living together.
He’d tried to talk her out of it, but she’d made up her mind, and god, the woman was so stubborn.
Finally, he’d relented, even though his condo felt too empty without her.
Jax demanded, however, that she leave a few of her things behind for the times in the future when she would stay over.
He even cleared out a section of his closet, which, despite her protests, was quickly filled with her things.
She conceded to spending a few nights a week with him.
Last night, after finally taking her on their first date, Eavie had insisted he take her home despite his protests.
“You’re not coming in tonight,” she’d said, smirking at him as they stood outside her door.
“Why not?” he asked, confusion knitting his brow.
“Because,” Eavie said sweetly, fluttering her lashes at him, “tomorrow is your first game back, and you need to be rested for it. We both know if you come inside, neither of us will be getting any sleep.”
Jax groaned deep in his chest and stepped closer, eliminating the distance between them. “I’m willing to accept those consequences,” he replied, lowering his head until their lips were inches apart.
A smile settled on hers as she placed her hands on his chest. “Now, Mr. Morghan,” she said, knowing it drove him crazy when she called him that, “what kind of Royals employee would I be if I kept the team’s captain up all night before his big return?”
She lifted slightly to close the distance between them, their lips connecting in a hard kiss. Too soon, she pulled away, pushing on his chest to widen the distance.
Jax clenched his jaw, making the muscles twitch.
They hadn’t been together in weeks. While she stayed with him, they kissed—a lot—hands roaming each other’s bodies desperately.
However, Eavie had always stopped them before they went any further, saying it was too risky while he was still recovering, giving a whole new meaning to the term blue balls.
“No exerting activity,” she would say, pushing away from him.
Now, Eavie laughed at the look on his face. “Oh, don’t look so put out,” she said, giving him a smile that never failed to have him giving her whatever she wanted. “I promise to make it up to you tomorrow.”
That caught his attention. He smiled down at her mischievously. “Oh, yeah? How?”
“I’ll go home with you tomorrow after the game. We can…celebrate your first game back,” she said with a flirtatious smile.
Jax groaned again and reached for her, placing his hands on her hips. Pulling her closer, he said, “You have a deal, Cinderella. But you should be prepared for a very, very long night tomorrow. I plan to torture you until you’re begging me to let you come.”
She drew her lower lip between her teeth, something he’d noticed she did when she was turned on. Her eyelids grew heavy, and a warm flush started up her neck. He tracked its progress, delighting in watching the evidence of her desire spread across her skin.
Smiling, he leaned down for one last quick kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow, baby,” he said, taking a few steps backward before turning and continuing to the elevators.
Thoughts of tonight had filled his head all day, only moving to the back of his mind during the game—barely.
As Jax left the locker room, he saw her standing ahead, chatting with Mandy as she usually did after a game. Seeing her caused all those thoughts to jump back to the front of his mind, now with a new intensity, as he took in what she was wearing.
She stood with her back to him in fitted pants that ended at her ankles.
With them, she wore those goddamn Louboutin heels that she’d had on the night he had fucked her on her desk.
But the heels weren’t what had his blood pumping, although they never failed to elicit that effect. It was the shirt she was wearing.
On top, she wore a Royals long-sleeve t-shirt with his name and number, eighty-five, printed on the back. Seeing her wearing his number had his gut tightening, a wave of possessiveness rushing through him.
Jax had never been possessive or jealous where a woman was concerned, except with Eavie.
What he felt for her was unlike anything he had known could exist, and while he was still working through what that meant, he was willing to risk it, so long as Eavie was beside him.
He had handed her his heart, and he didn’t want it back.
Moving down the hallway toward them, he watched Mandy catch sight of his approach and nod her head in his direction. Turning, a massive grin spread across Eavie’s face when she saw him. Her incredible smile always caused his heart to skip a beat as the full force of it hit him.
Coming up to her, Jax dropped his bag and bent to wrap his arms around her waist, lifting her up so her feet left the ground.
Her arms snaked around his neck, and her legs automatically wrapped around his waist. He kissed her hard, squeezing her to him just a little tighter.
After a minute, they pulled away, smiling at each other.
Behind Eavie, Mandy gagged. “Wow, you two should get a room,” she said, shaking her head, but her smile belied any real scolding.
Chuckling, Jax put Eavie down, but kept one arm around her waist. “Oh, I plan to,” he answered cheekily, his eyes never leaving Eavie.
A blush spread up her throat, fanning her cheeks. Clearing her throat, she quickly changed the subject. “Congrats on your first game back and the big win,” Eavie said, smiling at him as she tried to cover her embarrassment.
“Thank you. It feels good to be back on the ice. Are you ready to go, Cinderella?” he asked, not bothering to hide his impatience.
Eavie laughed at that. “Yes, I’m ready. I’ll see you tomorrow, Mandy,” she said as Jax reached down to pick up his bag. He clasped her hand tightly, and she let him lead her down the hallway toward the garage, nodding at players as they passed.
Word had spread quickly that they were back together. There was no way to stop it after Eavie’s sprinted departure the night Jax was injured. Surprisingly, no one said anything about it, and anyone who saw them together could tell it was something real.
As they climbed into his truck, Jax tossed his bag onto the back seat before turning to capture her mouth in a fiery kiss. He pulled away only when she was breathless and knew she was ready to melt in his arms.
“Are you ready, Cinderella?” he asked, gazing at her.
A seductive smile touched her lips as she leaned forward. “I’ve been ready since I met you. The question is, are you ready to see what I have on under these clothes?”
He pulled back, hot blood making his cock instantly hard for her. “Don’t tease me,” he growled at her. “Tell me.”
She bit her lip, making him growl again. “Just that sexy little set you bought me,” she answered, her voice husky.
“Fuck,” he ground out, retaking her mouth. He pulled back just enough to mutter against her lips. “Tell me you’re mine.”
She moaned, her tongue flicking out to lick her bottom lip, catching his in the process. “I’m yours,” she whispered. The word barely passed her lips before he ravished her mouth again. Eavie pulled away before he was even close to being done with her. “Take me home.”
Home. That one label—one syllable—filled him with so much love for her that words eluded him.
Jax wanted to tell her that she was his home, but instead, he gave her one last kiss before he threw the truck into gear, ready to have her alone and prove to her again how much he desperately, exquisitely loved her.