Page 53 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
Liam’s hand lifts, not touching me, but he presses one palm to the wall just beside my head, then the other. His arms cage me in with practiced precision, his broad frame crowding mine.I’m not scared. I’m electrified. Trapped in the best, worst way possible.
He leans down, his mouth just inches from mine, and the heat rolling off him makes my knees wobble. His eyes flick to my lips, then back to my eyes. His jaw clenches. Like he’s barely holding something back.
“You think we’re all equal?” he murmurs, voice gravel and heat.
I nod again, weaker this time.
“I know you kissed Jax,” he says, eyes darkening. “I know you kissed Cole.”
His breath fans across my cheek. My pulse is a deafening roar in my ears.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” I whisper, barely able to form the words.
Liam’s gaze bores into mine. “Because if I don’t… I won’t stop at just a kiss.”
The world tilts.
Then, just when I think he’s going to close the distance—his mouth brushing mine, hands slipping lower—he pulls back an inch. Just one.
His voice drops to a near growl. “You think that makes us equal?”
I can’t answer. My voice is gone, lost somewhere between adrenaline and longing.
Liam’s lips twitch—not quite a smile, but close—and then he pushes off the wall, backing away with military control, leaving me breathless and burning in the dark hallway.
“Think about what you really want,” he says, and then he’s gone, his footsteps echoing down the hall, leaving only the echo of what almost happened—and the terrifying ache of how badly I wanted it to.
22
LIAM
Cards slap onto the table.
“Your turn,” Jax prompts, nudging me out of my distracted state.
It’s late, and the dim lighting overhead casts long shadows. Things feel uncomfortably introspective these days.
I glance briefly at the cards in my hand, not really seeing them, before flicking one into the growing pile. Jax arches an eyebrow but doesn’t comment, scooping up the cards to reshuffle as Cole silently watches.
This has become our routine over the past few weeks—late nights, quiet conversations, endless games of poker. Sleep doesn’t come easily to any of us. It never really has, but here, in this cabin with Ava just a few rooms away, sleep feels impossible.
Time has somehow warped in this place. The one thing that gets stronger, though, is the awareness of Ava’s presence gnaws insistently at the back of my mind.
Especially after the other night, the words she said, “You’re all equal to me.”
Maybe the reason I haven’t pursued it was because I didn’t think I stood a chance. But, did she mean it? Are we all really equal to her? And did she mean it in the way that we wanted it to be?
Cole and Jax have already made their decisions. I know their minds are set, determined to pursue this insane idea of staying with Ava. It’s reckless and absolutely everything I’ve always fought against. Control and logic have kept me grounded my whole life, but lately, those familiar tools have felt utterly useless.
“Raise,” Cole murmurs, sliding a few chips into the center of the table.
Jax groans, rolling his eyes. “You know I’m bluffing, bro. Why you gotta do me like that?”
“You always bluff," Cole answers. "It’s not exactly a mystery.”
Jax grins despite himself, folding his cards dramatically. “Fine, take my money. I’ll get you the next round.”
Their easy banter continues around me, but I barely hear it. My thoughts have drifted again, wandering stubbornly back to Ava. She’s sleeping now, probably tangled up in the sheets with her brown hair spread across the pillow, those doe eyes closed peacefully. The image sends warmth flooding through me, followed by sharp frustration.
