“Tell me,” I say on a squeeze, tilting my head lower until our eyes lock again.

“I like thinking I’m one of the few people who sees you like this.”

Pulling her toward me with my hand wrapped around the back of her neck until we’re sharing the same breath, I tell her softly, “I like that reason,” before covering her mouth with mine, licking across her bottom lip, pulling it between my lips and tasting her on my tongue. When her tongue touches mine timidly, I lift her, hearing her squeak as I adjust her on my lap to straddle me.

“Jax,” she exhales heavily, leaning back to look at me.

Seeing the trepidation in her eyes, I run my hand over her hair, settling on the underside of her jaw then back up to wrap into her hair. “Slow, Ellie. I promise we’ll take it slow.”

“Slow,” she repeats against my mouth as I pull her forward. Sweeping my tongue between her lips, I groan when her hands slide from my chest to my hair and her fingers move through the stands.

Dragging her tighter against me with one hand on her ass and the other in her hair, I pray I don’t come in my pants like a sixteen-year-old kid that’s never had a chick on his lap before.

Slipping my hands up the back of her shirt, my fingers roam over her smooth skin. Her tongue moves lightly against mine as her hips circle. I don’t even know if she understands what she’s doing to me, and to herself, as her core bumps against my erection.

Moving my hands, I still her hips while pulling my mouth away from hers, groaning, “We have to stop.”

Seeing the heat in her eyes makes it harder to stay firm, when all I want to do is strip her down so I can explore her body. Shaking my head, I tuck hers under my chin while my heart beats rapidly in my chest.

“Are you okay?” she asks quietly, and I feel her hands on my shirt, running her fingers over the material.

“Yeah, baby.” Kissing her head, I tilt her chin up. “You feel like watching TV with me for a bit?”

“Sure,” she agrees, and her eyes drop to my mouth, making me smile.

“Just TV, my gluttonous girl,” I chide her playfully.

Turning red, she ducks her head again, mumbling, “Sorry.”

“Slow, remember?” I ask, running my finger over her lips, gaining her attention once more.

“Slow,” she agrees, moving to sit on the other side of the couch. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I yank her back, settling her against my side before picking up the remote and turning on the TV.

Opening my eyes, I see the cable box has powered off, leaving on the blue screen that has cast a glow around the room. I feel Ellie’s weight against my side, her arm over my waist and her warm breath against my shirt. Smiling, I lean my head back then hear a little voice whisper, “Ax.”

Turning my head to look over my shoulder, I see Hope standing in the doorway to the living room, wearing her sleep shirt and pants with the snowman on the front of them. Her long brown hair is down in a mass of wild waves, and her face is soft and sleepy.

“Hey, sweetheart,” I whisper as she walks toward the couch. “Are you okay?”

“I had to potty,” she whispers loudly, making me smile, then looks at her mom, who’s asleep on my side. “Mommy’s sleeping,” she points out, climbing up on my lap.

“She’s tired,” I say, watching while she studies me.

“Me too,” she says in a whisper, pulling my hand from the arm of the couch and wrapping it around her waist. She then tucks herself into a ball against my chest while her tiny fingers play with mine for a moment until they still. Tipping my chin downward, I find her asleep as well.

At a loss, I kiss the top of her head, letting my lips rest against her hair as I pull in a breath then let it out slowly as I feel my chest crack open, as if they just ripped my heart out and split it amongst themselves. Listening to them breathe, I close my eyes, holding each of them a little tighter, understanding exactly what my mom meant. I would protect these girls with my life. I would die for them. And I will never let anyone take them from me.

Sliding out from under Ellie, I carefully adjust her until she’s lying down as I hold Hope against my chest.

“Ax?”

“Shhhh, sweetheart, I’m going to tuck you back into bed,” I tell her gently, carrying her up the stairs. Opening her door, I lay her on the bed, tuck the covers up around her, and then kiss her hair again before moving to the door and closing it halfway.

Going back downstairs, I pick up a still sleeping Ellie from the couch and carry her up to her room.

“Jax?” she whispers, clinging to me.

“I’m putting you in bed, baby,” I tell her, kissing her forehead as I use my shoulder to open her door. Carrying her across the dark room, I lay her down on the bed, wanting so badly to follow and climb in behind her. Instead, I whisper, “Slow,” against her ear when her arms tighten around my neck letting me know she wants the same thing.

Kissing her once more, I pull her arms from me and move to the door before I can’t force myself to leave.

“’Night, Jax.”

Looking over my shoulder at my beautiful woman, I whisper back, “’Night, baby,” closing the door halfway behind me.

It’s going to be a test of my willpower having Ellie down the hall from me, especially having seen the way she goes wild once I touch her. Going to my room, I leave the door open, that way I can hear if I’m needed, and then strip down to my boxers and get into bed.

Walking into the kitchen the next morning, I’m glad to see Ellie alone, and am surprised my sister didn’t stay when she came to pick up Hope.

Grinding my teeth. I know men have to hit on Ellie all the time. Fuck, if she was on the opposite side of the street from me, I’d walk to the other side and see if I could get her number. Today, her hair is down in big waves. Her long-sleeved black shirt is tight, with a scoop-neck, making her breasts look even fuller. The jeans she has on are ripped and baggy, with the bottom cuffed, showing off a pair of black boots with high chunky heels that make her ass look phenomenal and her legs look long.

“Morning, baby,” I greet her, placing a kiss on her neck as I lift my arm over her head to reach for a coffee cup.

“Morning.” She smiles then her head ducks away, but I still catch the blush that has risen on her cheeks.

“We need to talk about something,” I tell her, watching her face pale.

“What?”

“Here, up you go,” I say, placing her on the counter then pushing her legs open so I can stand between them.

“Jax, what is it?”

“Your mom was arrested yesterday,” I explain, watching as her bottom lip goes between her teeth. “My uncle will be calling you today, explaining to you what is going on and when or if you will need to be in court.”

“I have to see her?” she whispers worriedly.

“Most likely.” I nod, rubbing her thighs.

“My mom is—”

“Your mom has nothing to do with your life now,” I say, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “And I’m here with you. You’re not alone.”

“I’m not, am I?” she asks softly, studying me as her fingers move along my jaw then over my bottom lip.

“Never again, Ellie,” I tell her, and her forehead comes to rest against my chin. She and Hope have not only me, but also all of my family. They will never be alone again.

Chapter 6

Ellie

Walking down the hall to Jax’s office, I stop at the threshold, nibbling my bottom lip while leaning against the doorjamb so I don’t fall over.

Jax is sitting at his desk shirtless. His hair is messy, and he has a pair of black-framed glasses on I have never seen him wear before. As I watch him, he lifts his hand and runs his fingers through his hair, causing the muscles of his arms to flex, along with his pecs and abs.