Page 45 of Undisputed Player
While he moved around my kitchen, cleaning and organizing with efficient grace, his shoulder blades shifted like wings beneath golden skin. Every movement was controlled, like he was constantly aware of his own power and choosing to restrain it.
When he turned to rinse a dish in the sink, that mysterious bulge at his back became more pronounced, pressing against the fabric of his shirt, making me curious despite myself. Whatever it was, it was solid, angular, deliberately placed, not the casual outline of a wallet or phone.
I watched Leo rearrange his dinosaurs, lining them up on the coffee table. Jax folded himself onto my shabby carpet beside Leo, his massive frame somehow fitting in our too-small space.
"The T-Rex was actually more of a scavenger than a hunter," Leo informed Jax with the authority of someone who'd read every dinosaur book in existence. "They had really good noses for smelling dead things."
"Smart," Jax replied, his forearms resting on his knees as he leanedforward with interest. "Why hunt when you can let someone else do the hard work?"
He wasn’t just tolerating Leo's enthusiasm; he seemed genuinely interested.
How many men would sit on a raggedy carpet, listening to a five-year-old explain the dietary habits of extinct lizards like it was the most fascinating thing in the world?
How many men would look at my chaotic, imperfect life and see something worth staying for?
When Leo finally yawned, rubbing his eyes with small fists, I moved to take him to bed. But Jax was already there, rising from the floor, scooping Leo up with an ease that spoke of practice with children.
"Come on, buddy," he chuckled, carrying Leo toward the bedroom. "Dinosaur experts need their sleep."
I followed, transfixed by the sight of this powerful, dangerous man cradling my most precious boy. I had no idea what to think, or why Jax was so good at parenting.
He tucked Leo into bed with gentle hands, listening patiently as my nephew insisted on explaining the difference between herbivores and carnivores one more time. I could see the way he modulated his strength to handle something so small and fragile.
He was good with him.Jax ruffled Leo's hair with the kind of paternal affection my nephew had been starving for. He was everything Leo needed—strong, patient, present.
EverythingIneeded.
CHAPTER TEN
Estelle
After Leo's breathing evened out into sleep, we returned to the kitchen in comfortable silence. I moved toward the sink automatically, reaching for the dish soap, but Jax's arm snaked around my waist, pulling me back against the solid wall of his chest.
The contact was much too warm—his body hard and warm against my back, his arm like a steel band across my ribs. I could feel every ridge of muscle, could smell that intoxicating blend of cologne and masculine heat that made my knees weak.
"What did I tell you about the dishes?" he murmured into my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
I shivered, hyperaware of every point of contact between us. "They need to be done.”
"They need to wait." His arm tightened fractionally, holding me in place. "You need to learn to let someone else handle things."
Learn.Like this was just the beginning, like there would be other nights, other opportunities for him to take care of us.
"I can’t,” I admitted. "I've been doing everything myself for so long, I can’t depend on someone else."
He turned me in his arms, large hands framing my face. Up close, I could see the fine details of his features, how his light lashes cast shadows on his cheekbones, the way his pupils dilated slightly as he looked at me.
"Then learn," he murmured. "Start with tonight. Start with me."
It wasn’t that simple—I couldn’t just decide to trust this golden god who'd walked into my world and turned everything upside down.
But looking into those blue eyes, feeling the steady strength of his hands, and the way his thumbs stroked my cheekbones, I wanted to try. For the first time in years, I wanted to let someone else be strong.
"Okay," I whispered, the word a surrender and a leap of faith all at once.
His smile was radiant, transforming his face from handsome to breathtaking. "Good girl," he said again, and the praise went straight to my core. "You're already learning."
And then I turned right back to the sink.
