Page 26 of Undisputed Player
The intensity of the urge shocked me. I'd never felt this way about a woman before, this strange mix of desire and protectiveness, of wanting to possess, of wanting tonurture.
I wanted to be the one who provided for her. Who made sure she had everything she needed.
The thought was so foreign to my usual MO that it stopped me cold. I'd never wanted to take care of anyone before. I'd never felt this strange mix of desire and responsibility, of wanting to claim and cherish.
But with Estelle, it felt right. Like I'd been waiting my whole life to find someone who needed exactly what I suddenly wanted to give.
I pushed the door open with practiced nonchalance, leaning against the frame with the casual confidence that had become my trademark. Several little heads turned, including hers, and for a heartbeat, our eyes met across the classroom.
There it was again.
That life-altering jolt, the one I'd been chasing all week like some sort of addict looking for his next fix. She had the most beautiful eyes I'd ever seen—brown like warm honey, framed by lashes that cast shadows on her cheekbones.
Those eyes held depths I wanted to explore, secrets I wanted to uncover, exhaustion I wanted to ease.
I forced myself to remain still, to maintain my charming smile, when all I wanted to do was cross the room and kiss her senseless. To see if her lips were as soft as they looked, if she'd melt against me or fight back with that same quiet strength she carried like armor.
"Jax!"
Avery spotted me from the hallway, racing toward me with the unbridled enthusiasm that only five-year-olds possessed. I caught her with a laugh, swinging her up like usual, her giggles echoing off the classroom walls.
My pumpkin would throw a much-deserved fit if I ever forgot our routine.
I was pleased to see her excitement, even as part of my attentionremained focused on the woman across the room. "Ready to go home?"
Over Avery's shoulder, I watched Estelle straighten, smoothing her hands over jeans that had seen better days but somehow made her look more beautiful than a designer dress ever could. She didn't approach, but she didn't look away either.
Progress.
I set Avery down and strolled toward Estelle, keeping my movements relaxed, unthreatening.
Everything about her screamed caution. She held herself like she was ready to bolt, maintained a careful distance, and wore a polite smile that felt like armor.
Someone had taught her to expect the worst from people. Someone had made her build these walls.
The thought filled me with a protective rage so intense I had to consciously relax my fists. I wanted to find whoever had caused this wariness, whoever had made her so careful, and feed them their dick.
But more than that, I wanted to show her that not all men were the same. That I could be different. That I could be what she needed, even if she didn't know what that was yet.
"Ms. Estelle," I greeted her, my voice dropping to the register that usually made women's pupils dilate with want. Not calculated seduction, just the natural warmth that came from being genuinely pleased to see her.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, followed by something softer that made my heart fucking speed up like I was sixteen again.
"Mr. Easton."
I nearly fanned myself. She remembered my name.
"Avery tells me you're friends with the dinosaur expert around here," I continued, leaning against a desk to give her space while maintaining the connection. The casual pose just so happened to show off my divine physique, though I pretended that was entirely accidental.
Entirely.
Another flicker of surprise passed through her pretty face, this one tinged with something that might have been curiosity. “That’s Leo, my nephew.”
Her nephew.Thank fucking god. Not like it would have been difficult to stage an accident for her husband, but… This was easier.
Her voice was even softer than I remembered, with that same rough edge that suggested she didn't waste time with idle conversation.
It sent a shiver down my spine, and I wondered what she sounded like when she forgot to be careful, when she let her guard down and just... existed.
