I reach out before I can stop myself, my large hand settling on her hip. My fingers spread over the soft curve there, feeling the warmth of her through the thin fabric. I shouldn’t. I knowI shouldn’t. But these past few days have been pure torture. Wanting her every second. Fighting the pull until my muscles ache with it. That kiss yesterday still lingers on my tongue, sweet and addictive.
“Doesn’t sit right,” I admit, my voice dropping to a husky rumble. I pull her closer until her chest brushes mine, her breath catching warm against my neck. “After what happened with Riley… our own people turned on a witness. Fed her to the bad guys. Mason’s solid now, runs the office clean, but I don’t like handing you over to the system. Not when those shooters are still breathing out there somewhere. Not when all I can think about is keeping you right here with me. Locked safe in these arms.”
Her breath catches again, that cute flush deepening across her cheeks and down her neck. She tilts her head up, lips parted soft and inviting, and every dominant instinct in me roars to kiss her again. Claim her mouth. Lock the damn doors and tell the world to burn while I bury myself in her heat.
“Jax,” she whispers, her small hand coming up to rest on my chest. Right over my heart that’s pounding like a war drum just for her. “I… I don’t want to go either. These past few days have been scary, but with you they’ve also been… more. The way you look at me. The way you kissed me yesterday. I keep thinking about it.”
I lean down, forehead nearly touching hers, breathing her in deep.“We pack now. Load the SUV. I get you to the next spot safe. But Ava… this isn’t over for me. Not by a long shot. I’ve never felt anything this big. This heavy.”
She nods, eyes sparkling with that intoxicating mix of fear and something warmer, something that matches the fire roaringin my blood. We move together through the small cabin, the floorboards creaking under our boots. She packs her few things, folding clothes with those delicate hands while I check weapons and supplies, the metallic click of magazines and the rustle of gear filling the warm air. Every glance between us crackles with heat, charged like the storm outside.
My hands brush hers as we carry the bags out to the black SUV. The night air bites cold against my skin, but the tension between us burns hotter than any wood stove. I help Ava into the passenger seat, my palm resting on the small of her back longer than necessary, fingers pressing firm and hungry, soaking in the warmth of her body like it’s the only thing keeping me grounded.
She looks up at me with those wide, trusting eyes, snowflakes catching in her lashes. “Jax… promise you’ll stay close? Even after WITSEC?”
I buckle her in slow, my knuckles grazing her thigh. “I promise. I’d climb every mountain to keep you.”
I climb behind the wheel, the engine rumbling to life with a deep, throaty growl that vibrates through the seats. The road ahead stretches dark and uncertain through the trees, but with Ava beside me, every mile feels like a promise I’m not ready to let go.
11
Ava
The black SUV hums steadily beneath us as we cut through the Idaho night. Darkness wraps the narrow mountain road like a thick velvet curtain. Snowflakes dance wildly in the headlights, swirling in hypnotic patterns that make my already tired eyes want to cross.
I sink deeper into the passenger seat, the leather cool against my back even through my oversized coat. My body feels heavy, every muscle aching from two days of constant adrenaline and the emotional whiplash of this whole witness protection nightmare. Yet every single time Jax glances over at me, even for a split second, a fresh spark of energy zips through my veins like I’ve chugged an entire pot of that strong coffee he makes.
I sneak another look at him. His big hands grip the steering wheel with quiet confidence, knuckles occasionally flexing as he navigates another curve. The dashboard lights cast sharp shadows across his strong jaw and the intense line of his profile. He looks like pure concentrated power wrapped in flannel and tactical gear. My overactive brain, which refuses to shut up evenwhen I’m this exhausted, immediately starts narrating.Chapter Three: The Grumpy Marshal and the Sleepy Librarian Drive Into Destiny.I almost giggle out loud at how ridiculous that sounds, but I catch myself and turn it into a soft yawn instead.
"You okay over there?" Jax asks, his voice dropping into a low, rumbling timbre. It sends another warm shiver racing down my spine. He doesn’t take his eyes off the road for long, but that quick glance feels like a full body caress.
I nod and pull my coat tighter around myself. "Just tired. Really tired. But also... not. Does that make sense? Like my body wants to curl up and hibernate for a week, but my senses keeps lighting up every time you look at me. It's like you have superpowers or something. Dangerous superpowers."
The corner of his mouth twitches in that almost smile that makes my stomach do happy little flips. "Dangerous, huh? Keep talking like that and I might pull over to test that theory."
Heat floods my cheeks. I shift in my seat, pressing my thighs together against the sudden throb of awareness low in my belly. The road stretches on forever, pine trees blurring past in dark silhouettes against the snowy backdrop. I watch him drive. The concentration. The determination. I’ve never felt this kind of pull before. Not with anyone. It’s scary and thrilling and completely crazy how much I already crave him after only a few days.
We talk in quiet bursts as the miles slip by. I tell him silly stories about library patrons and the time I accidentally shelved an entire cart of books in the wrong section because I was lost in a particularly steamy romance novel. He listens with that intense focus, grunting responses that somehow feel like the warmest encouragement. At one point he reaches over and rests his largehand on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze that lingers. The heat of his palm burns straight through my leggings. I cover his hand with mine, tracing the rough calluses on his fingers, and for a little while the exhaustion fades completely.
Hours later the SUV finally slows. Jax turns onto a barely visible snow covered path that winds deeper into the trees. The new safe house appears like a sturdy shadow against the night. It looks almost identical to the last one. Exactly like it. How many cabins do they have?
"Stay here a minute and lock the doors when I get out," he orders, voice all primal command. He checks the perimeter with quick, efficient movements, his boots crunching through fresh powder. I watch him through the window, heart fluttering at how protective he is. My big, growly marshal. When he comes back and opens my door, cold air rushes in. He helps me down, his strong arm wrapping around my waist as my legs wobble from the long drive.
"Inside," he murmurs close to my ear. His breath warms my skin and sends sparks dancing across my nerves.
The cabin door swings open to welcome us with a rush of blessed heat. One large main room greets us. A big bed piled high with heavy quilts dominates one corner. A small kitchen area sits to the side with a couch nearby. It feels safe. Intimate. Just like the last one, only this time the tension between us crackles even stronger.
I step inside, boots leaving little trails of melted snow on the wooden floor. My body sags with exhaustion now that we’ve stopped moving, but that buzzing energy returns full force when Jax closes the door behind us and locks it with a solid click. He shrugs off his jacket, muscles shifting under his shirt in a waythat makes my mouth go dry. I hug my arms around myself, suddenly aware of how small I feel next to him.
"Jax," I say softly, my voice coming out breathier than I intend. I glance at the big bed and then back at him. "Will you... stay in the bed with me tonight? I know there’s the couch, but after everything, I don’t want to be alone. Please?"
He turns to me fully then. Those steel eyes darken as they drag slowly over my body from head to toe and back up again. The air between us thickens instantly, charged with heat and promise. "You sure about that, Ava? Once I get in that bed with you, I’m not sure I can keep my hands to myself anymore."
I nod, cheeks burning hot. My heart pounds so hard I’m sure he can hear it. "Yes. I trust you. And I... I want your hands on me."
He crosses the room in three powerful strides and pulls me into his arms. His chest feels solid and warm against mine, heartbeat steady and strong under my cheek. One large hand cradles the back of my neck while the other settles on my lower back, pressing me closer. I tilt my head up and he meets me halfway.
Our lips touch softly at first. Then deeper. His mouth claims mine with that decisive hunger I’ve been craving since yesterday. He tastes like coffee and determination, and I melt into him with a delicate moan. My hands slide up his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle through his shirt. He groans low in his throat, the sound vibrating through me as he angles my head for better access. The kiss turns hotter, wetter. His tongue sweeps in, teasing mine in a rhythm that makes my knees weak.
