Page 50

ETHAN

After the three of us showered and Jax braided Aurora’s hair, it was pushing into the early hours of the morning. So when there’s a sharp knock at the door and Aurora jolts awake, I’m not pleased.

“Oh, shit! I overslept.” She goes to scramble off the bed, and her feet tangle in the sheets.

She falls forward, and her arms shoot out. I jump up, grab her shirt to stop her from face-planting into the hardwood, and yank her upright. I encircle her shoulders and draw her into my chest. Her heart pounds hard, and I can only imagine how high her blood pressure is.

“Slow down before you hurt yourself. They’ll wait.”

There’s more knocking, louder this time.

Jax lifts his head. “Jesus, fuck. Hold on.”

“We only have an hour,” a snappy female voice answers.

“Be right out!” Aurora kicks her legs free of the bedding and heads to the walk-in closet.

I dig out a pair of sweats and a T-shirt from my bag and pull them on.

She comes out in cotton shorts and a sweater. “You don’t have to get up. Sleep. You got in late.”

“You were up with me, remember?”

“Oh, believe me, my entire body won’t let me forget.”

Jax throws on joggers and a hoodie. “I’ll kiss it better later.” He winks.

That image doesn’t help my morning wood. He can kiss it better while she sucks my cock. That was pretty amazing last time.

Fuck, I need to stop thinking about sex before I pitch a tent.

We exit the bedroom to everyone gathered in the living room.

“Long night?” Desmond smirks.

The opposite of his brother’s hard features and annoyed tone. “We tried to talk her out of waking you.”

Emily gawks, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. I remember her from the charity event, the woman at the bar. Her gaze brazenly drifts over me, same as that night. It’s uncomfortable, even in my half-awake state.

The girls head to the kitchen, and I shoot Jax a what-the-fuck expression.

He puts his arm around my shoulders and lowers his voice. “Just wait until she makes an inappropriate comment about your dick in those gray sweatpants.”

I shove him off, go back to the room, and dress for the day in jeans and a T-shirt. I’m meeting Rocco this morning anyhow.

When I return, Jax is sitting with the twins, a chocolate donut in hand. He’s smiling and laughing, despite the others teasing him about his never-ending appetite.

I raise my chin at him. “You need to hit the gym.”

“Bro, I was doing hip thrusts for an hour last night. I need a box of donuts to recuperate and a search party to recover my fucking soul.”

I shake my head and turn away before he says anything more embarrassing. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss his smart-ass comments, though.

Emily’s voice hits my ears before I reach the kitchen, and I lean against the doorjamb, arms folded.

“That’s not normal. Why don’t you pick one? Stringing along two men is selfish. It’s impossible to love them both.”

Her words, although incorrect, awaken the snake in my gut. I can’t imagine Aurora choosing between us, can’t imagine a world in which the three of us aren’t together.

Aurora pours a cup of coffee, her back to me. “I do, and it feels perfectly normal.” She turns toward the doorway. Her gaze wanders over my biceps, bulging in this position, and she tries to hide her smile by taking a sip from her mug.

I enjoy her devilish eyes on me; I revel in my girl checking me out. The other one? Nope. In fact, there’s not much I like about Emily.

“What do you want for breakfast?” I ask Aurora.

Her lips spread into that naughty grin I love.

“Yeah, me, too. Go back to bed, and I’ll make it happen.” I’ve only been here a few hours, and, once again, I’ve transformed into my captain, letting shit slip in front of others.

Or maybe this is me, just less uptight and more comfortable.

Emily rolls her eyes. “Her other man went for breakfast, and hopefully, he’ll return soon. We need to get started.”

That puts a damper on my mood. “Who?”

“Ricky, the bodyguard who stares at Aurora as if he wants to join your orgy.”

“Em,” Aurora snaps. “Don’t.”

“Does your mouth ever close? You’re as bad as Jax.”

I say it as a joke, but it makes sense. She’s extroverted, has no shame, and constantly runs her mouth. She probably spoke up for Aurora, talked her through her anxieties—and into things—and now, Aurora has us.

“Come sit with me.” I motion towards the living room and walk away, not giving either of them the chance to argue.

I find an open recliner in front of the panoramic windows. Everyone is sitting in vintage upholstered chairs; in the middle sits an old trunk that serves as a coffee table.

The place has an industrial vibe, with exposed brick and ductwork. It’s clean. Somebody painted, polished the floors, and found some furniture, but that’s about it.

I set Aurora’s mug on the table.

She clicks her tongue. “I need caffeine. Someone kept me up all night.”

“Along with the rest of us.” Desi yawns. “We’re going back to bed if it’s okay with you.”

I nod, and they disappear down a hallway to the right, which I assume leads to the other three bedrooms. This place is impressive. It must span the entire floor of the building.

With my hands on her hips, I draw Aurora onto my lap. “You may need caffeine, but the baby doesn’t.”

She swings her legs over the arm of the chair and rests her head on my shoulder.

I press a kiss to her forehead and caress her stomach, eager to feel him move again. “You should cancel. Go back to bed. You need to rest.” And I need you.

Emily sits opposite us. “We can’t cancel. We were supposed to finish yesterday.”

“I wish I had popcorn for this,” Jax says from his seat beside me, a smile in his voice.

I’m tempted to keep quiet, but this girl grates my fucking nerves. Plus, I don’t want Aurora working. She’s mine. She should be in bed, resting and growing my son.

My eyes take on that stony stare. “You don’t dictate her schedule. She’ll work if she’s well enough, and not for long.”

Aurora snuggles into me further. “Everyone can stop. I’m fine. We’ll finish today.”

Emily meets my stare head-on. “You don’t dictate her schedule either. That’s Jackson’s doing. You know, her fiancé .”

“I’m well aware of who her fiancé is, seeing as we slept in the same bed together. If you think Jax is controlling, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

I thought a lot about Jackson and Aurora’s engagement. It’s not that I don’t want a commitment. I do. It’s that marriage isn’t important to me. He’ll cherish the shit out of being married to her. It would mean everything to him, and it wouldn’t be right for me to take that away.

I’m jaded. The concept of marriage is tainted in my eyes.

I crave something deeper.

Jax can have his ring on her finger. I want her submission.

Aurora’s body relaxes, her breathing goes steady, and I rest my head. If she falls asleep, I’m kicking everyone out and we’re going to bed. The last I checked, it wasn’t even eight a.m. We had maybe four hours of sleep.

“So let me get this straight.” That annoying voice breaks the silence. “You’re engaged to Jackson but having a kid with Ethan?”

Aurora answers with a sleepy groan. “Yes. Em.”

“No,” Jax counters. “We’re all having a baby, and Ethan may have provided the DNA.”

I jerk my head in his direction. “There’s no question about it. I provided the DNA. We’re not going over this again. You know what happened.”

His eyes light up, that shit-eating grin on his face. “I do. She and I got into a fight. She rebounded with you, and you tried to get her pregnant.”

Now I know he’s fucking around, doing it to take the heat off Aurora and me. This is what he does—acts absurd in awkward situations.

“ Tried ? No, I did get her pregnant.”

He crosses his arms over his chest, lifting his brows. “So you admit it was on purpose?”

My face heats, and Aurora shakes with laughter at his ridiculousness. I open my mouth to argue, but he stops me with a raised hand.

“Doesn’t matter. The three of us are having kids. That’s all anyone needs to know.”

I cock my head. “Kids? Did I miss something at the last doctor’s appointment?”

“He wants a hockey team of kids,” Aurora clarifies.

My brain trips. It’s far too early for this conversation. “Let’s...take this one kid at a time.”

I wouldn’t deny him a child, but some shit has to change. When we’re separated, I’m constantly worried. I can’t imagine my anxiety after the baby arrives.

“If it’s too difficult for you, I’ll retire. I don’t mind being a stay-at-home dad. You have no control over me fucking a baby into her.”

“Jesus Christ.” I shift under Aurora, my dick firmly on Jackson’s side of the debate. “We’ll discuss this later.”

Emily gapes at us as if we’ve lost our damn minds—and we have, there’s no doubt about it.

But nothing compares to last night. I’m itching for a repeat, and that baby comment has not helped.

The sound of the elevator rumbles through the apartment—the photographer and whoever else must be here.

I kiss Aurora’s temple, my lips lingering. “I have to meet Rocco this morning. You better eat when food arrives and finish by the time I return.”

She doesn’t answer but moves my hand lower, and the baby brushes my palm. It’s a light flutter, but I melt. I read babies learn and respond to our voices and touch this trimester—more reason not to be separated.

“I love you,” I whisper.

“Love you.” She places her soft lips on mine.

“This is so fucked up.” Emily’s voice raises, revealing her jealousy. “Jackson, I saw you shatter a bottle?—”

Aurora breaks our kiss. “Em,” she barks in warning.

“— injuring Aurora because a guy was chatting with her. But you allow your coach to be all over her?”

“What the hell is she talking about?” I don’t recall anything about her being injured by Jax. Then, I remember her words: I’ve bled for that man. I thought it was a figure of speech.

“Nothing.” She slides off my lap. “Em, stop or leave.”

“Oh, you don’t know? Jackson got angry and threw a bottle against the wall, aiming for a guy’s head. It shattered, cutting the guy’s face and neck. Luckily, Aurora shielded herself in time, because a large piece of glass embedded in her arm.”

Our girl steps in front of Jax, always protecting him. “Leave.”

Emily stands on high heels, but unfortunately, she doesn’t exit.

“Then he dragged her over the table and broke the guy’s nose with his elbow for trying to stop him.

He couldn’t even see when Jackson punched him in the throat.

The only reason he didn’t kill a senator’s fucking son is because his father intervened. ”

It all clicks in my head. Not that his response was appropriate, and I’m sure he was intoxicated, but it’s not a surprise Jax was triggered by a predator taking an interest in Aurora, like the memory is triggering him now, driving him to his feet.

Aurora hugs his waist. “Ignore it. I’m okay.”

He points a finger at Emily. “None of that shit would’ve happened if you hadn’t brought her there. If you weren’t such a jealous, scheming fucking whore, she would’ve never been with those people.”

Jaw and fists clenched, Emily charges toward Jax, Aurora between them. “She also would’ve never seen you strung out!”

Aurora spins around, sways on her feet, then clutches her stomach, and the room erupts into chaos, fast .

I’m done, absolutely done.

Jax grabs our girl, and I get in front of her, in front of them both, knowing he’s about to lose his shit. “Leave before I have you removed.”

Emily narrows her eyes. “And who’s going to remove me?”

“Me.” Ricky enters my peripheral vision and snatches her arm, dragging her away. “Let’s go.”

She trips but manages to stay upright, her feet scrambling beneath her. “You can’t touch me!”

“Wanna fucking bet?” he snarls, not letting up. “You came at the woman I’m protecting. I’ll do whatever the fuck I want.”

She struggles to free herself from his grip. “I’ll fight back!”

He shoves her through the kitchen doorway. “And I’ll put you in handcuffs.”

Jax hovers over Aurora, tears in his eyes.

“I’m only nauseated,” she assures him, her voice wobbly.

From behind, I cuff his rigid shoulder and clasp her nape. When he doesn’t throw me off, I wrap my arm around his front and draw him into my chest. “You good?”

He releases a breath and nods solemnly.

Ricky returns from dumping the trash, his face flushed. He glares at Aurora and points to the bedroom. “Get in bed.” He lowers his hand and exhales. “I’ll bring you breakfast and take your blood pressure.”

Her gaze meets mine, seeking my response, as if I won’t agree.

I release her neck. “Go.”

Her shoulders slump. “I have to finish today.”

“We’ll see what your blood pressure says.” I have no intention of letting her do anything. “Climb into bed with Jax. I’ll bring you cupcakes after my meeting.”

Once the bedroom door shuts, I find Ricky in the kitchen arranging her breakfast—a strawberry tart and a bowl of yogurt with granola, blueberries, and raspberries, a chocolate croissant on the side.

My God, can someone not spoil her?

“You know that’s not your job anymore. You don’t have to do that.”

He pops the top off a steaming to-go cup of tea. “It was never my job.”

I brush that comment aside. I lack the brainpower to deal with him right now.

“Not that I’d ever let it happen, but you see why Jax can’t be around Kyle or be put back in that environment, right?

” Just the thought has my heart racing against my sternum.

I should have someone check my blood pressure.

“He’ll relapse. He’ll get wasted to get through it. It’ll kill Aurora.”

“I got you.”

“He was a victim.”

His eyes meet mine. “I’m not planning on using him—or Aurora—but he could give details of people and locations. That would help.”

“I’ll think about it. Don’t let anyone up please. She doesn’t need to be working. Is it always like this?”

“With Emily, yes. She goes out of her way to provoke Jax every single time. Other than that, no. He cooks and plays video games with the twins. They’ve talked about going to the gym. Aurora tinkers in the studio, reads, and naps. They spent a day shopping. They do well here.”

That’s what I was afraid of.