“You can stay here, let Fox work for a change. He’s been a beach bum for a long time now.” I wrap my arms around his neck and lean up, kissing him lightly before saying, “Not happening, not today at least. It’s my favorite day of the week at the shop. I get to choose what inventory to order, well, for the clothing side of things. Fox and Cruz haven’t released the other gear to me yet, which I’m okay with. I have no idea what will work surfing and sports wise. Nerd over here,” I tease.
“Sexy with a brain and all things smart ass. That’s my woman, the woman I love,” Jax states.
“Do you mean that, Jax, truly?” I’m not sure why I’m second-guessing this, probably because it seems too good to be true.
“God yes. Are you going to be able to handle an old man set in his ways though?” I lift my legs around his waist and wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me.
“Oh, I’m sure I can handle you. I love you, Jax. I think we both knew early on what this was between us. We were too busy throwing obstacles at each other that weren’t necessary. Me with my mouth, you with grumbling about the age difference and wanting me to do my own thing. That’s garbage, by the way. If you think I’d ever let anyone hold me back from my future, you’re crazy.” I wink, and then our lips crash together, our tongues becoming one with the other, and when my hips start arching, wanting Jax inside me again, he pulls back and says, “Sweetheart, as much as I want to slide my cock inside you, it’s too soon.”
I look down at our bodies and groan. His length is sitting right there. It wouldn’t take much for me to push down on Jax’s cock, but he’s right. I can see just how tender I am.
“Ugh, this really sucks.” I throw my head back on the pillow. He laughs but rolls off me, somehow managing to get out of bed in one smooth motion.
“Come on, if you have to stop by your house on the way to work, we may as well conserve water and shower together.”
“Sure, that’s what we’ll do. Save the planet and stuff,” I grumble but take his offered hand just the same. Sure, it sounds like I’m grumbling, but the smile plastered on my face tells Jax just how happy I am. It’s all thanks to him and loving me the way he does.
Epilogue
Jax
Six Months Later
Sitting here watching my woman walk up the stage, graduating from college, I couldn’t be prouder. Her parents are beside me on one side, Melanie and Fox on the other. Cruz tried to make it, but some kid called in sick at The Wet Shop in Florida, so that was a no-go. He was pissed as all get out. One thing’s for sure: Sloane has two guys in her life who aren’t her brothers by blood, but they treat her like a sibling nonetheless.
The flash of leg she shows as she walks off the stage with her diploma lets me know what my firecracker is up to. She didn’t get ready at my place, something I wasn’t all too happy about. She’s still paying rent on her place until the end of this month, then she’ll be living with me permanently. Well, unless we have to go down to Florida for her to help out there, which is fine by me. I travel more than she does right now, which sucks. If it weren’t for her trying to wrap up her degree, she’d be right there with me. Instead, she had to sneak off when she could to watch the guys and me play beach volleyball when she wasn’t studying her ass off or working. Sloane is a busy woman, and I don’t see her slowing down any time soon.
“When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?” Fox elbows me. Sloane’s parents perk up at hearing the conversation.
“I have something up my sleeve, but she’ll know before you, that’s for sure.” I told Sloane’s parents one night when they were over for dinner about my plans of making Sloane my wife, having her take my name, and one day a long way down the road, we may have kids, or we may not.
Sloane and I decided kids aren’t in our future for a while. We both want to travel, and she wants to get her career kicked off further and is even talking about getting her master’s degree. I’m still not sure how she got roped up with me, not with how smart she is, but I’m grateful all the same.
“Just making sure you don’t plan on living in sin,” he grumbles. Melanie lets out a loud laugh trying to contain her snort but having trouble doing it.