Page 42 of Single Mom's Navy Seals
The stairs creak beneath my bare feet as I tiptoe downstairs. The cabin feels eerily quiet, shadows cast in sharp relief by the pale moonlight filtering through the windows. I head straight towards the kitchen, my mind already fixated on the rich taste of chocolate ice cream.
Pulling open the freezer door, I grab the cold carton, smiling softly to myself. Turning around, I nearly jump out of my skin at the sight of Jax standing silently in the kitchen doorway. My heart rockets into my throat, adrenaline flooding my veins as I barely stifle a scream.
“Jesus, Jax!” I whisper harshly, my voice high-pitched with fright. “You scared me half to death.”
He chuckles, leaning casually against the doorframe, completely unfazed. My eyes widen involuntarily, heat flooding my cheeks as I take in the sight of him. He’s shirtless, wearing only a pair of gray basketball shorts that hang loosely from his hips, and his muscular chest and defined abs catch my eye before I can help myself. My mouth goes dry, heartbeat pounding even harder—this time, not just from fear.
“Sorry, Ava,” he drawls lazily, eyes twinkling mischievously. “Didn’t mean to scare you. What’s got you up so late?”
Clearing my throat awkwardly, I hold up the ice cream carton, self-conscious. “Couldn’t sleep. Thought ice cream might help.”
He smirks, stepping closer, his eyes never leaving mine. “You planning on sharing?”
I pretend to hesitate, feigning reluctance. But something in the gentle warmth of his gaze makes my heart skip, and finally, I sigh dramatically, turning back to grab two spoons from the silverware drawer.
“Fine. I guess.”
He laughs and places a light hand on my back, guiding me toward the back door that leads out onto the porch. “Come on, Ava. Ice cream tastes better outside anyway.”
We settle comfortably together on the porch swing, his thigh brushing mine, and the cool night air blowing softly across my skin. The desert sky above us is breathtaking, stars scattered brightly across the velvety darkness. Silence stretches between us for a long moment, broken only by the soft creaking of the swing.
Finally, Jax’s voice cuts through the quiet, gentle but firm. “What’s really keeping you awake, Ava?”
I hesitate, heart tightening. Taking a slow, deliberate bite of ice cream, I focus on the sweetness melting across my tongue, trying to gather my thoughts. When I finally speak, my voice is quieter than intended.
“I’m worried I’m going to get used to this.”
He looks at me curiously, head tilting. “Used to what exactly?”
“Having you three here,” I admit, embarrassment and honesty coloring my voice. “It’s been just Eli and me for so long. I’ve been depending entirely on myself for his safety since the day he was born. Witness Protection wasn’t ever a guarantee. It was always just me, constantly waiting for Randy to find us, knowing it would only take one corrupt person in the right position for him to catch up.”
I pause, glancing away into the darkness.
“I even learned to shoot, just to protect Eli if it ever came down to it. I’ve always had the weight of the world on my shoulders alone. Now you guys are here, and…” I trail off, voice trembling. “It’s different.”
Jax’s expression softens dramatically, eyes filled with quiet determination. “Ava, you’re safe now. We’re not going to let anything happen to you or Eli.”
“That’s the problem,” I whisper, voice barely audible. “Soon, this mission will be over. You, Liam, and Cole have your own lives, your own business. You can’t possibly stay here forever, just waiting around because of me. Eventually, you’ll leave, and it’ll be just Eli and me again, alone and vulnerable. I almost don’twant to let myself feel safe now because when you’re gone, it’ll be so much worse.”
He shifts closer, voice gentle but firm. “We’re not going to abandon you to fend for yourself, Ava. It won’t happen.”
I laugh, bitterness coloring my tone despite myself. “Jax, you have a company to run. I might not know much, but I do know you can’t pay your bills and feed yourselves doing free favors for Morales. Eventually, reality will hit, and you’ll have to leave.”
His lips twitch into a cocky smirk, eyes glittering playfully. “Money will never be an issue for us.”
I roll my eyes dramatically, frustrated by his teasing response. “Jax, be serious. There’s an expiration date on this mission, and once it arrives, I’ll be alone again, facing Randy and all my fears entirely on my own.”
He’s silent for a long moment, the cocky amusement fading from his expression. Guilt rises inside me—I’ve said too much. Panic claws at my chest, and I begin to apologize.
“Look, Jax, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”
Before I can answer, his hand brushes my cheek, fingers warm against my skin, and then his mouth is on mine—firm, hungry, undeniable. The kiss steals every breath from my lungs.
It’s not careful. It’s not sweet. It’s desperate and rough and real. Like he’s been holding this back for days and just snapped. His fingers tangle in my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, and I gasp, only to feel his tongue sweep into my mouth, hot and insistent.
I should stop him. I should. But the moment his hand drags down, slipping beneath the hem of my oversized shirt to grip mybare thigh, I lose whatever willpower I had left. A sharp jolt of heat shoots straight through me. My body arches instinctively toward his, seeking out his warmth, his pressure, his everything.
He groans low against my lips, like he can feel the shift in me, like he’s been waiting for it.
