“How about you get dressed while I take care of Tabby.” Ryder wore a pleased smirk. He didn’t even look angry at the interruption.
“To be continued,” Ryder said.
Before Jax could get his brain into gear to reply, Ryder was gone.
Jax was a little disappointed that everything had to come to a halt. And he couldn’t help but wonder when they’d be able to continue where they’d left off.
No one had ever made it just about him, and not only that, but Ryder had happily gone to look after Tabby.
“And he called Tabby ours.”
Chapter Six
Ryder
Ryder rocked Tabby back to sleep. Goddess, he adored her. Still, he couldn’t wait to get back to Jax. Now that he’d had a taste of his mate, he wanted more.
He didn’t just want the sex. No, he wanted to mate with Jax. He needed to be with him, and he hoped his mate didn’t regret the moment that had happened between them.
He kissed Tabby and laid her back down in the crib. “So how about you do Da—” Ryder so wanted to call himself Dad, but that wasn't something he could do without talking to Jax. “Please, sleep through the rest of the night, okay? Papa and I need some time alone, and hopefully, by the time you wake up again, I’ll officially be your Dad.”
Once he was sure Tabby was actually asleep, he hurried back downstairs, although he was sadly disappointed to find his mate passed out on the couch. He’d managed to put his pants and underwear back on but was still shirtless and snoring lightly.
Ryder chuckled and moved closer. “Oh well … We have the rest of our lives.” He gently lifted Jax and carried him up to his room.
He smiled when his mate burrowed into his body. As much as Ryder wanted to take Jax to his room, he wouldn’t do that when he wasn’t awake to make that choice.
So he gently laid Jax in the guest room bed and covered him with a blanket. He watched him sleep for a little while before forcing himself to leave so he didn’t lie down beside his mate and hold on for dear life.
Ryder went to his room and bed, alone.
Tonight was a start,he reminded himself. Still, Ryder hoped that this was the last night he’d sleep in a separate bed from his mate.
The next day, it was as if the night before had never even happened. And Ryder was so confused and hurt. He didn’t want to be because Jax had every right to feel how he felt. Even if that included avoiding him. When they did talk, it was just about Tabby and nothing else.
He’d thought that Jax would have wanted to carry on where they’d left off immediately. Okay, so maybe some talking would be involved first but nope. There’d been none of that. There was no sign from Jax that he even wanted to take the next step.
Had he misread the signs again? They’d been about to have sex. That was something he knew for sure. And Jax was the one who had started things. And he hadn’t been drunk. Now suddenly, they were back to living the lives they’d been living before. Even worse because they didn’t even share meals. If Jax cooked, his dinner was waiting for him in the oven.
No more snuggling on the couch with Jax falling asleep twenty minutes into a movie.
It was like they were two people living separate lives under one roof. It made no sense to Ryder, but when he attempted to progress things again, with a subtle touch on Jax’s shoulder or even just a look in his direction, Jax looked away or made an excuse to leave.You can’t push things if Jax isn’t in the same space as you.But Ryder couldn’t help wanting to know why. What had happened? Had he done something wrong?
It was almost a week of much of the same. But at least this time, Jax stuck around to share breakfast with him in the kitchen while Tabby sat in a highchair. Jax would take a bite of his oatmeal and then give a spoonful of baby food to Tabby. Ryder watched him as he did it. The silence in the kitchen was deafening. Ryder opened his mouth to tell Jax what was on his mind, but Jax stood up from the table. He wiped Tabby’s mouth, then picked her up.
“Where are you going?” Ryder asked.
Jax turned to face him. He smiled softly, which was the only reason Ryder wasn’t too shaken. “I’m gonna take Tabby and go get some groceries. I noticed that we’ve run out of several things.”
“I’ll go with you.” Ryder stood, but Jax was quick to shake his head.
“It’s not necessary,” he said. “Thanks, though. I just need to get out of the house. I’ll take Tabby so you can have some alone time. In fact, you should do what I suggested last week. You should go out with your family, your friends. All you do is work and take care of us. You need some time to yourself.”
Ryder shrugged. “I’m fine here. I don’t need any time to go out. Really. And I don’t mind going with you to get the groceries.”
Jax hesitated. “I really need this time alone.” Ryder felt like Jax had taken a hammer to his chest. “Nothing against you, but it’s something I need to do.”
Ryder slowly nodded. “If that’s what you want.” He didn’t want Jax to go, not when he had so much on his mind that he wanted to share with him, but he didn’t want to crowd Jax. “Do you need any money?”
