“That I’m yours?” I chuckle knowingly. I’m well-aware of how possessive men can get.
His gaze darts back to mine, looking startled. “No. That I’myours.”
My lips part in surprise, Jax’s words echoing in my head as I try to make sense of them. That’s not a claiming, that’s…
Anoffering.
“You’re… what?” I ask in disbelief.
He weaves his hand into the hair at the nape of my neck, holding me in a tight grip so I can’t look away. "I’m yours, baby girl," he murmurs. "I know it, you know it, now everyone knows it."
It’s all I can do to stare at him. No one has ever cared about my feelings so much, or understood me so wholly, as to say something like that. IknowJax is the type to wear the pants in his relationships—I know he’d prefer to mark me as his. But he doesn’t. Instead of doing whathewants, he gives me whatIneed.
He gives me a choice.
I fist my hands in his shirt and press my lips to his, overcome with emotion—overcome with love for this selfless man who cares so deeply about me. Who’s always cared for me, even when I was just a little girl who followed the teenagers around. And now that we’re together, he cares for me the way a man should care for a woman.
“You’re mine,” I whisper against his lips. “And I’m yours.”
A pleased sound rumbles through his chest. It’s accompanied by a rough kiss when he pulls me in by his grip on my neck. He devours my lips, pressing me tight against his body and angling his head so he can deepen the kiss.
This one is nothing like his greeting kiss.This oneis a claiming kiss.
"I'm going to throw up in about 0.3 seconds if you two don't cut that shit out right now," an annoyed voice snaps, successfully ripping Jax and I from the haze we had sunken into.
I pull away from Jax, suddenly embarrassed. I was never huge on affection before, so PDA was never an issue, but something about Jax makes me eager for all the attention he wants to give me.
Jax takes his time turning back to the group. He presses his forehead to mine, his eyes closed, as he savors our moment for a little longer. Then he places a kiss against my forehead and turns us toward the group, his arm wrapping around my shoulders and keeping me close.
Everyone in the group is staring at us. Aiden is grinning, Max and Lucy look stunned, and Remy just looks uncomfortable.
My whole face heats at the thought that everyone just witnessed what we did. I can't bring myself to look at Remy except for a quick glance. "Sorry," I mumble awkwardly. "I didn't mean to force that in your face."
She softens at that and sighs. She doesn't look annoyed or like she hates Jax and I together, she just seems uncomfortable watching someone maul her little sister. Which, I can't really blame her for.
"So itistrue," Lucy says with a grin. "I always knew you scaring the guys away from her was a little suspect. Guess now we know why."
Jax just glares at her. "Tell me you'd want your sister dating any of the assholes at the gym."
That makes Lucy wince. "Okay, fair point."
"Hey, we're not assholes," Aiden argues. "We're gentlemen of the highest caliber." He throws his arm around Max, who just rolls his eyes at his best friend's antics.
Someone snorts, and Jax and I turn to the girl standing behind Aiden with surprise. I hadn't realized she was with our group.
"I'm not sure the word 'gentleman' could apply to any part of your life,” she says with a laugh. "I could pick some other words, but not that one."
I see Jax's eyebrows shoot to his hairline out of the corner of my eye.
I’ve only ever really been close with Jax and Lucy, so the rest of the fighters’ group is a little unknown to me. The only thing I know about Aiden is that he’s an even bigger ladies’ man than even Tristan was, because he’s all charm and good humor. Women fall all over themselves to get to him, sucked in by his smile and eager to seduce him in any way they can. I’ve never heard anyone tease him.
"Sorry, I didn’t realize you were with our group," Jax finally says when his shock wears off. It’s not uncommon for women or girlfriends to be brought into the group, but it is odd to see someone that’s not the typical wannabe-WAG that is just trying to worm her way into the gym with fake words and plastic tits. "I’m Jax. This is Hailey, and that’s her sister Remy."
The girl steps around Aiden and makes her appearance. She’s beautiful, with long, dark brown hair that resembles a mane more than anything else, and her eyes look like emeralds. They’re brought out by the green flannel that she’s wearing over a simple black crop top and shredded black jeans. She’s also got an incredible sleeve of black ink running down one arm and over her hand.
She reaches out her knuckles for a fist bump. "I’m Danielle. Just call me Dani."
Jax’s lip twitches in an almost-smile at the greeting. He gives her a fist bump and nods his approval. "Nice to meet you, Dani. I assume you’re here with the dimpled asshole?" He jerks his chin toward Aiden.