Page 30

ETHAN

“He’s so tiny.” Jax watches the ultrasound video on his phone for the millionth time on our way to eat. “You can see his heart beating.”

The three of us are in the back, Ricky driving.

I attempt to feel jealous of Jackson’s excitement over this pregnancy, but I can’t find it within me.

He’s fiercely happy, and I don’t have the heart, or lack thereof, to extinguish that.

With everything that concerns Aurora, he’s one hundred percent invested.

Why wouldn’t I want that? She needs our support.

All went well with the ultrasound. The baby is perfect, measuring slightly bigger than expected, making me feel terrible for my behavior.

I’ve turned into an irritable bastard since my run-in with Kyle.

It doesn’t help that I haven’t told either of them about his threats or my own father.

I’ve been tight-lipped about many aspects of my life.

Aurora smiles at Jax, her head on his shoulder.

He kisses her forehead then whispers, “I love you. I’m sorry…for everything. I promise I’ll do better.”

Fuck, if that doesn’t make me feel ten times worse. Jackson has done a lot of shitty things, but he owns up to his mistakes, and he’d do anything for her, including quit hockey.

Yet, here I am, giving her what little I can spare when it’s clear she needs more. They need more. I have all this guilt and fear burning inside me. For fucking up with Jax. For not providing for her. For not protecting them both. All of it, tearing at my soul every day.

“I know. I love you.” Her words are full of confidence. Something between them has changed. She’s changed. Maybe because she knows, without a doubt, that he returns her feelings—another thing she lacks with me.

Aurora is forced to hold back, although I can read her like a book. She gazes at me with adoration, clings to me as if she needs me, and submits to me as if she’s mine.

But she doesn’t share those sentiments with me. She thinks I’m not ready for them, and I made her feel that way. I told her as much.

Jackson might be a hothead, but he never lets a moment go by without telling her he loves her or misses her or whatever puppy-love bullshit he’s on. Except it’s not puppy love or bullshit. He wears his emotions on his chest for all to see.

I refuse to be a sappy, lovesick fool, and my bond with her may never compare to his, but Aurora and I share something .

She goes to kiss him, but before she can, I wrap my arm around her and pull her away. “Enough. You’ve been with him for a week. It’s my turn.”

Jax crosses his arms over his chest. “You had her last night.”

Their flight arrived late, and all I got was a sleepy Aurora. Not that I’m complaining—I’ll take her in my bed in any shape or form.

“We were sleeping.” I give him a half-hearted glare. “And only for a few hours before you woke us, seeking attention.”

He shoots me a cocky smirk. “You’re lucky I wasn’t in bed with you. I thought about it many times.”

Jesus, he’s not lying. He has no boundaries.

In response, I lean down and capture Aurora’s lips, flipping him off with one hand and cupping the back of her head with the other. Unspoken words linger on the tip of my tongue, but it’s not the time, not while her boyfriend is mean-mugging me, no doubt.

Breaking the kiss, I brush my fingers through her hair. “I’ve missed you so fucking much. Spend the night with me.” Then, I add, for him to hear, “Just us.”

He shakes his head. “Not happening, asshole.” Given his ridiculous smile, he’s enjoying this.

I slump my shoulders and glower. “You always going to be a cockblock?”

“Your cock has done enough, homewrecker.”

It’s hard to keep a straight face with Aurora’s giggles and the way he grins at me. Grins , as if we’re best friends. As if he didn’t shove me, his eyes filled with rage and loathing, only a few weeks ago.

“I’m being serious, dickhead. We have a lot we need to talk about.”

He motions between us. “So talk. Fuck for all I care, but she’s sleeping with me.” He echoes my words, lowering his voice to mock me.

I am not finding this jackass funny.

Shit, I am, and I’ve never been more annoyed with myself.

“Don’t test me, Jax. I’ll bend her over the table while you eat your Lucky Charms.”

“That’s disgusting, Coach. I’d never eat Lucky Charms.” That damn smart mouth of his.

“I’m going to kill you,” I say with a chuckle. I can’t help it.

Jackson

Our girl tips her head back, laughing— really laughing. This is the happiest I’ve seen her in a long while, and I’ve never seen Coach this happy.

That sums it up. It’s decided. We are now in a relationship, and there’s no arguing otherwise. It’s fate.

And his comment about bending her over the table might have made me hard.

Time to have some fun.

I pop a Jolly Rancher in my mouth and stuff the wrapper in my pocket. Threading my fingers through Aurora’s hair, I bring her gaze to mine. “Come here.”

My voice is raspy, and she bites her bottom lip to hide her naughty smile. She doesn’t need to read my thoughts—the mischievous glint in my eyes gives me away.

I move toward the center of the seat while guiding her to straddle me.

“Wanna make out?” My tone is playful, but I’m one hundred percent serious. I’ll be the devil who leads them to sin if it brings the three of us closer.

I palm her ass and adjust her over my erection. Her lips part as her fingers glide up my neck and weave into my hair.

Ethan settles into the leather seat, and I sense his penetrating gaze.

I shift my hips, seeking friction. “I dare you to share my Jolly Rancher with the old man.”

He scoffs and shakes his head, but he doesn’t turn away.

I twirl the candy with my tongue and place it between my front teeth. Aurora accepts the challenge, but just as our lips brush, I suck the Jolly Rancher into my mouth and deepen the kiss.

Our tongues intertwine, and her body surrenders to mine.

Everything disappears: my coach sitting next to me, Ricky, the fact that she’s stealing the Jolly Rancher from me…

With a triumphant smile, she pulls away and glances at Ethan, her lips swollen and cheeks flushed. Not hesitating, he grabs her jaw and draws her in for a hard kiss.

Their tongues tangle, and I glide my hands under her hoodie to palm her full, round breasts and pinch her peaked nipples. She whimpers into Ethan’s mouth while thoroughly enjoying my cock pressed against her.

I most definitely did not have my girlfriend riding my lap while sucking face with my coach on my bingo card for this afternoon, or even this year. Still, it’s the three of us , and I’m so fucking hard.

I’d do anything to slide into her wet cunt right about now.

I sink my teeth into her neck, then whisper, “Baby, I want you to ride me,” while flexing my hips.

Ethan bristles and growls, “Driver,” reminding me we have someone else in the vehicle.

“Fuck…” I drag out the word, heavy with disappointment and, okay, some pouting.

I fix Aurora’s hoodie and reluctantly drop my hands to her waist.

Fucking Ricky, always ruining everything.

Ethan adjusts his pants, and a laugh bursts from my chest.

“You look dazed and smitten, Coach.”

Again, I get the middle finger. He leans back, and Aurora rests her cheek on my shoulder, facing him.

“You like this?” he asks, brushing his fingers through her hair.

He’s so close, I can feel the heat radiating off his body.

“With all of us?” Her voice is vulnerable, and I place a reassuring kiss on the top of her head.

“Yes, my dirty girl. Do you want that?” His words are blunt, but amusement laces his tone.

My heart races in anticipation of her answer. The thrill-seeker in me, the part always chasing a high, wants nothing more than to explore this relationship .

She nods.

He kisses her forehead, mumbling, “Me too.”

“Ricky,” I call out, not wasting a minute. “Change of plans. Take us to my Laguna Beach penthouse, please.”

My lips are streaked with sugar, the inside of my boxers are sticky, my heart is content, and my mind has never been clearer.

Only one thing… “Who has the Jolly Rancher?”

Ethan sticks the candy between his teeth. “Why? You’re not getting it back.”