Page 23 of Single Mom’s Navy Seals (Claimed by the Alphas #2)

AVA

T he darkness outside is calming in a way I haven’t felt in years.

I’m tucked into the big armchair near the window, knees drawn up to my chest, arms wrapped around them.

The horses move in the pasture beyond, their shadows shifting beneath the silvery moonlight.

I follow their movements with tired eyes, savoring this quiet moment to myself after a long, exhausting day.

Eli is asleep behind me in the bed, snoring.

He had a pretty exciting day, especially after the great news he got.

For the five days that we’ve been here, Eli has returned to the subject of the horses, his excitement barely containable.

He wanted so badly to interact with them, but we weren’t sure what was allowed.

Liam texted Morales the second day for more information about the sanctuary and what they could do with the horses.

It wasn’t until we were at dinner earlier that he finally got a response. Eli had nearly bounced out of his skin when Liam relayed that the horses were actually friendly enough to be petted and given treats, though they weren’t saddle-broken, so riding was only possible bareback.

“Can we go out and pet them now, Mama?” Eli had begged, tugging at my hand insistently, eyes wide and hopeful. “Just for a minute, please?”

“Tomorrow, baby,” I told him firmly, glancing at Liam, Jax, and Cole, who thankfully backed me up immediately.

“Your mom’s right, kid,” Jax had said, his voice warm and reassuring. “You’re tired tonight. Tomorrow’s soon enough. Horses aren’t going anywhere.”

The men’s firm agreement seemed to convince Eli, and he’d shifted gears, eager for bedtime. He’d barely finished brushing his teeth before collapsing onto the mattress, murmuring sleepily about seeing the horses in the morning.

I can’t blame him for being so fascinated with the horses.

Neither of us has ever been around them before, and they are truly gorgeous.

Hence why I love this room Eli picked out.

It has a large window that faces the sprawling pasture, providing a perfect view of the horses.

That is exactly why he chose it; his small hands pressed eagerly against the glass, his eyes wide with excitement.

Thankfully, the room is also free of the unsettling taxidermy that seems to haunt every other wall in the cabin.

It’s been a strange first five days here. Since we arrived, my body’s finally let go of survival mode, and I’ve felt the crash of years’ worth of exhaustion.

I would feel bad, but I am well aware that right now, Eli is not worried about spending all of his time with me.

For the first time in his life, he has people outside of me, and I know it’s been exciting for him.

I didn’t think I would find it so easy to trust them with Eli, but I have.

Maybe I’m naive to go off of their initial vibes, but I don’t believe I am.

I have a hard time believing that they are faking their connection with my son.

With the way Eli is with them, after a week of knowing them, I finally feel convinced that I can trust them.

Eli trusts them, and kids have good intuition.

Plus, I’ve known the whole time that Morales trusts them, and if that’s the case, why was I so determined to see bad qualities where there were none?

I’ve finally accepted that it’s okay to let people in.

It’s okay to trust people who show they can be trusted.

So, I let myself rest and it felt really good.

But I’ve also spent every evening with everyone, and that’s also felt weirdly good.

It’s nice to have sound in the house. When it was just the two of us, I never realized how quiet the house could get.

Things are almost never quiet now. There are always footsteps, doors closing, voices, and Eli’s giggles. I loved it.

We’d all also started eating dinner together every night.

Now, alone and freshly showered, dressed in another oversized T-shirt and my most comfortable underwear, I stare out into the night.

Watching the horses wander beneath the stars, I enjoy the sense of calm seeping into my bones.

The knowledge that Eli is safely asleep just steps away and there are three people who would be here to defend us against Randy are luxuries I haven’t known in so long.

Yet beneath the relief, a quiet dread begins to gnaw at the edges of my newfound peace.

Jax, Liam, and Cole won’t be here forever.

No matter how protective and capable they are, this is a job to them.

Eventually, they’ll return to their lives, their routines, and Eli and I will be left behind once again.

That’s a truth that has begun to replace one of my biggest fears for the future.

Without them, and as long as Randy is still out there and breathing, everything will be uncertain.

I sigh, frustrated with myself for spiraling. Dwelling on it won’t change reality. My eyes flicker to the small digital clock on my nightstand. 2:14 AM. No wonder the house feels so oppressively silent. It’s pretty quiet at the moment, so I’d wager I’m the only one awake in the house.

My stomach grumbles, and I remember seeing a carton of chocolate ice cream in the freezer earlier. Comfort food is definitely calling my name.

Easing myself from the cozy armchair, I creep across the room to check on Eli.

He’s completely out, sprawled comfortably across his side of the bed, little chest rising and falling evenly.

My heart swells painfully with love and protectiveness.

I tuck the covers more securely around him and slip silently from the room, closing the door softly behind me.

The stairs creak beneath my bare feet as I tiptoe downstairs. The cabin feels eerily quiet, shadows cast in sharp relief by the pale moonlight filtering through the windows. I head straight towards the kitchen, my mind already fixated on the rich taste of chocolate ice cream.

Pulling open the freezer door, I grab the cold carton, smiling softly to myself. Turning around, I nearly jump out of my skin at the sight of Jax standing silently in the kitchen doorway. My heart rockets into my throat, adrenaline flooding my veins as I barely stifle a scream.

“Jesus, Jax!” I whisper harshly, my voice high-pitched with fright. “You scared me half to death.”

He chuckles, leaning casually against the doorframe, completely unfazed.

My eyes widen involuntarily, heat flooding my cheeks as I take in the sight of him.

He’s shirtless, wearing only a pair of gray basketball shorts that hang loosely from his hips, and his muscular chest and defined abs catch my eye before I can help myself.

My mouth goes dry, heartbeat pounding even harder—this time, not just from fear.

“Sorry, Ava,” he drawls lazily, eyes twinkling mischievously. “Didn’t mean to scare you. What’s got you up so late?”

Clearing my throat awkwardly, I hold up the ice cream carton, self-conscious. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought ice cream might help.”

He smirks, stepping closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “You planning on sharing?”

I pretend to hesitate, feigning reluctance. But something in the gentle warmth of his gaze makes my heart skip, and finally, I sigh dramatically, turning back to grab two spoons from the silverware drawer.

“Fine. I guess.”

He laughs and places a light hand on my back, guiding me toward the back door that leads out onto the porch. “Come on, Ava. Ice cream tastes better outside anyway.”

We settle comfortably together on the porch swing, his thigh brushing mine, and the cool night air blowing softly across my skin.

The desert sky above us is breathtaking, stars scattered brightly across the velvety darkness.

Silence stretches between us for a long moment, broken only by the soft creaking of the swing.

Finally, Jax’s voice cuts through the quiet, gentle but firm. “What’s really keeping you awake, Ava?”

I hesitate, heart tightening. Taking a slow, deliberate bite of ice cream, I focus on the sweetness melting across my tongue, trying to gather my thoughts. When I finally speak, my voice is quieter than intended.

“I’m worried I’m going to get used to this.”

He looks at me curiously, head tilting. “Used to what exactly?”

“Having you three here,” I admit, embarrassment and honesty coloring my voice.

“It’s been just Eli and me for so long. I’ve been depending entirely on myself for his safety since the day he was born.

Witness Protection wasn’t ever a guarantee.

It was always just me, constantly waiting for Randy to find us, knowing it would only take one corrupt person in the right position for him to catch up. ”

I pause, glancing away into the darkness.

“I even learned to shoot, just to protect Eli if it ever came down to it. I’ve always had the weight of the world on my shoulders alone. Now you guys are here, and…” I trail off, voice trembling. “It’s different.”

Jax’s expression softens dramatically, eyes filled with quiet determination. “Ava, you’re safe now. We’re not going to let anything happen to you or Eli.”

“That’s the problem,” I whisper, voice barely audible.

“Soon, this mission will be over. You, Liam, and Cole have your own lives, your own business. You can’t possibly stay here forever, just waiting around because of me.

Eventually, you’ll leave, and it’ll be just Eli and me again, alone and vulnerable.

I almost don’t want to let myself feel safe now because when you’re gone, it’ll be so much worse. ”

He shifts closer, voice gentle but firm. “We’re not going to abandon you to fend for yourself, Ava. It won’t happen.”

I laugh, bitterness coloring my tone despite myself. “Jax, you have a company to run. I might not know much, but I do know you can’t pay your bills and feed yourselves doing free favors for Morales. Eventually, reality will hit, and you’ll have to leave.”

His lips twitch into a cocky smirk, eyes glittering playfully. “Money will never be an issue for us.”

I roll my eyes dramatically, frustrated by his teasing response. “Jax, be serious. There’s an expiration date on this mission, and once it arrives, I’ll be alone again, facing Randy and all my fears entirely on my own.”

He’s silent for a long moment, the cocky amusement fading from his expression. Guilt rises inside me—I’ve said too much. Panic claws at my chest, and I begin to apologize.

“Look, Jax, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”

Before I can answer, his hand brushes my cheek, fingers warm against my skin, and then his mouth is on mine—firm, hungry, undeniable. The kiss steals every breath from my lungs.

It’s not careful. It’s not sweet. It’s desperate and rough and real. Like he’s been holding this back for days and just snapped. His fingers tangle in my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, and I gasp, only to feel his tongue sweep into my mouth, hot and insistent.

I should stop him. I should. But the moment his hand drags down, slipping beneath the hem of my oversized shirt to grip my bare thigh, I lose whatever willpower I had left.

A sharp jolt of heat shoots straight through me.

My body arches instinctively toward his, seeking out his warmth, his pressure, his everything.

He groans low against my lips, like he can feel the shift in me, like he’s been waiting for it.

One hand fists in the fabric at my hip, dragging me closer as he leans back slightly on the swing, pulling me with him.

I follow without resistance, knees straddling his lap before I even realize what I’m doing.

His hands roam over my legs, squeezing the soft flesh of my thighs, inching higher with every breathless second.

My fingers slide up his bare chest, skimming the ridges of his muscles, the heat of his skin setting fire to my palms. His body is solid beneath me, and I can feel everything: the hard press of him between my legs, the rising tension in every part of him.

The kiss deepens again, messy and consuming, his mouth dragging down to my jaw, then lower, lips brushing along the edge of my neck. I gasp, my head tipping back, giving him access without thinking. His tongue flicks against my pulse point, and I shiver, my nails digging into his shoulders.

“Jax…” I whisper, my breath shaky.

He pulls back just enough to look at me, his pupils blown wide, voice gravel-rough. “Tell me to stop, Ava. If you want me to stop, I will.”

I look at him, really look at him. His chest is heaving, his hands still resting on my thighs, but he’s not pushing for more. He’s waiting. For me.

And that’s the most dangerous part of all. Because I don’t want him to stop. But I also know I can’t let this happen. Not all the way. Not tonight. Not while everything else in my life is still hanging by a thread.

“I—” My voice cracks. I swallow hard. “We can’t…”

His jaw clenches. He nods once and slides his hands slowly, regretfully, from my legs.

“You’re right,” he says quietly, still breathless, inches from me. “We can’t. But don’t pretend you didn’t want that too.”

I don’t. Because I did. Because I do.

I climb off his lap gently, avoiding his eyes, my entire body humming with leftover heat. My legs feel unsteady as I stand, wrapping my arms around myself.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, already backing toward the door. “We shouldn’t have—I mean, that was a mistake?—”

“Ava,” he says, voice low and serious. “That wasn’t a mistake.”

But I can’t stay. I turn and slip inside the house, closing the door behind me with shaking fingers.

My lips still burn. My body aches in places I haven’t felt anything in for years. And my heart pounds with the terrifying realization that I might want something I’m not ready for.

Because if I fall for him, even a little, it’s not just my heart on the line.

It’s Eli’s, too.

How could I have been so reckless?

I’ve just complicated things immeasurably, risking everything by giving in to these feelings. Randy is still out there. This isn’t the time to get distracted, especially not like this. Panic surges, leaving me breathless and frightened.

Because no matter how safe Jax, Liam, and Cole make me feel, no matter how much I want to trust them completely, I can’t afford to lose sight of the danger constantly lurking just out of view. One slip-up, one careless mistake, could cost Eli and me everything.