Their New Beginning (Oh Captain, My Captain #5)

by Lindsay Paige

  “I’m exhausted.” I yawn, grabbing a T-shirt and shorts. I quickly change and crawl into the bed.

  “What the hell are you wearing?”

  “There’s a small child across the hall. He could wander in here. How would I explain that to Brooke?”

  “Well, I need some adult time with my wife.” He pulls me against him.

  “Right now? Reed’s right there,” I whisper, not sure why.

  “Oh my God, I need you, and right now seems like the perfect time.”

  “Uncle Jax,” Reed’s soft voice carries from across the hall.

  “Come on.” He grits his teeth. “Ashton said that he has perfect timing.” He turns to check on him. I giggle because I know what he means.

  Jax comes back a moment later holding Reed’s hand. “Someone’s scared.”

  I smile, pulling the covers back as Reed jumps into the middle of the bed. Jax climbs in on his side, and the three of us snuggle together.

  Yes, I love my life again.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Jax

  Soft giggles wake me up and when I open my eyes, Reed’s feet are right in front of my face. I love the kid and all, but that’s not how I like to wake up. I look toward the sound of the giggling and see Avery trying to hold her laughter back because of the sight.

  “Reed,” I say to wake him up, pushing his little feet away from me. He groans and rolls over. I slide out of bed and grab Avery’s hips, kissing her once. “You shouldn’t have laughed, Avery.”

  “I couldn’t help it. It was cute and funny. You were practically snuggling with his feet when I came in.”

  The mental image of such a thing makes me laugh and I glance back at Reed. When Avery got out of bed, he must have somehow turned himself around on top of the covers.

  “Breakfast is ready, by the way,” she adds.

  “Okay. I need to wake him up then, huh?” I climb onto the bed, stand up on the mattress, and glance at Avery. She shakes her head, but there’s a hint of a smile on her face. “Reed! Wake up!” I start to yell as I jump on the bed around him.

  “Jax, you’re going to break the bed,” Avery laughs.

  I ignore her because I won’t. I paid too much for this good bed for it to break from a couple of jumps. “Reed! The house is on fire,” I holler as he starts to laugh and rolls over to face me.

  “Uncle Jax! Mom says we’re not supposed to jump on the bed,” he snickers as he stands up and jumps a couple times with me.

  “I guess we better stop then. C’mon. Aunt Avery fixed breakfast.”

  We hop off the bed and follow Avery down to the kitchen. She’s already fixed our plates and I realize that we slept in pretty late. It’s eleven in the morning. It’s been a long time since I’ve slept in that late.

  “Your mom will be here in a couple of hours, Reed. Is there anything you want to do or go shopping for before she gets here?” I ask as we start eating.

  “No thanks, Uncle Jax. We already got a lot yesterday. Thanks for buying me all that stuff and letting me spend the night. When can I come back?” He grins at me with hopeful eyes.

  “You’re welcome. I don’t know when. Maybe you can come stay with us sometime this summer.”

  “That would be awesome!”

  When I glance at Avery, she’s smiling. Maybe once we see if I’ll get a new contract and stay in Vegas for a good few more years, and things are going really good for us, we could start our own little family.

  We hang out at the house, watching cartoons and listening to Reed talk more about Sadie, Lexie, Ashton, Brooke, and even a bit about Nate, Brooke’s boyfriend. The knock on the door comes too soon and I have the pleasure of being face-to-face with Brooke.

  “Hey, Brooke,” I say, stepping aside so she can come in.

  “Hey, Jax. Has he been behaving?” She gives me a hug as I tell her he has.

  “Mom!” Reed runs over to her and immediately launches into telling her about everything I bought him.

  Brooke gives me a glare and shoves my shoulder with her free hand. “Jax! I said not to buy him anything.”

  “We jumped on the bed, too,” Reed adds.

  “We stopped as soon as he said you told him we aren’t supposed to,” I quickly add. Reed needs to learn how to keep secrets. “C’mon.”

  We go into the living room, and Avery and Brooke exchange hellos. Brooke hangs out with us for a while before I load her car up with Reed’s stuff and send them on their way. Once Avery and I are back inside, I turn to her.

  “Well, how did you like having a kid in the house?”

  She laughs. “I’m ready for a nap,” she jokes. “It wasn’t too bad though.”

  Not too bad at all.

  ~ ~ ~

  A couple days later, I come home full of energy with the night off. “Avery!” I call out when I enter the house. Silence answers me. She’s home because her car is in the driveway. I can hear the TV in the living room, so I make my way in there.

  There she is, sound asleep, lying on her back on the couch with the blanket half on the floor. I quietly go to sit on the coffee table, wondering how I should wake her up. It’s late in the afternoon, but she’s wearing one of my shirts and a pair of shorts. My answer is a no-brainer.

  I rest my hand on her leg, down by her ankle, and slowly make my way up her leg, which is so smooth; I know she had to have shaved them in the shower this morning. When I reach the skin above her knee, her legs twitch, pulling together. When I reach her mid-thigh, her legs relax a little, but go to cross as I inch higher. My eyes are on her face, waiting for a reaction.

  The corners of her mouth lift slightly before her eyes blink open in confusion and I stop my hand at the hem of her shorts. She jumps when she sees me.

  “Jax Godwin!” she half snaps at me, pushing my hand away. “You scared me.”

  I laugh, leaning forward to kiss her. “Looks to me like you were having a good dream,” I smirk.

  She smiles. “It did suddenly get interesting there at the end.” Avery sits up, crisscrossing her legs. “I had a headache, so I laid down and apparently fell asleep. How was your day?”

  “Good.” I don’t want to talk about my day. “Yours? Do you still have a headache?”

  Avery shakes her head. “No, and it was okay.”

  “Well, I’ve been thinking.”

  “That’s never good,” she teases.

  I grin. “You’ll like what I’ve been thinking about. I love you taking me on dates, but it’s time for me to take you out. I’m breaking up our routine a bit, only because it’s not really a re-creation date. I’ll leave those to you, but it is something I’ve always wanted to do and you’re the perfect person to do it with.”

  “And that would be what exactly?”

  “You’ll find out. Go get ready.”

  She hurries to go do that and I make a phone call to make sure part two of our date is still a go. Thirty minutes later, Avery comes down the stairs, all ready to go. On the drive there, she fills me in on a few changes in my schedule and more about her day. I finally park at the movie theater and glance at a confused Avery.

  “You’ve been to the movies before, Jax, and you’ve been before with me.”

  “I know. Just c’mon.”

  We make our way inside, standing back to see what movies are playing. The lobby is bustling with people, so I have Avery standing in front of me with my arms around her waist.

  “Which movie has been out the longest?” I ask her.

  “Um.” She looks them over and tells me it’s some action movie, but that it hasn’t been a very popular movie.

  “Perfect.”

  Avery opens her mouth to say something, but changes her mind as we buy our tickets and go to the correct theater. Luckily, the showing time is in ten minutes and when we walk in, there are only a handful of people already in there, most in the middle. I lead Avery all the way to the empty top row.

  Only three more people make their way in and they sit down at the bottom.
It takes twenty minutes into the movie before Avery leans over to whisper.

  “Jax, I’m not complaining, I swear, but I’m just wondering how this is doing what you said?”

  I grin and whisper back, “I never got the chance to make-out during a movie when I was a teenager.”

  The playfulness in her eyes doesn't match her words. “We’re adults and we’ll get kicked out.”

  “By whom? No one is even five rows ahead of us. C’mon, Avery.” I take her hand and kiss the corner of her mouth. “Kiss your husband. Help him cross this off his bucket list.”

  She tries not to laugh, but she can’t hold in a giggle. “Your bucket list, really, Jax?” Avery says as I kiss the other corner.

  “Mmm. Come sit with me.” I tug on her hand; her half-hearted protest of my name is almost laughable as she sits sideways in my lap.

  “Is this really on your bucket list?” she asks as I grip her hips.

  “I’ll make an actual list when we get home, write it up there, and then cross it off if you want me to.” I grin before kissing her, practically innocently at first. But when Avery wraps her arms around my neck and opens her mouth to me, I’m a goner. She kisses me harder when my hands slip underneath her shirt, but stay on her hips.

  Avery jumps with the sound of a loud explosion coming from the speakers all around us. She laughs and I chuckle at having already made her forget where she was. She wiggles in my lap to get more comfortable as she starts to kiss me again.

  “Pretty sure this is more like a fantasy, not a bucket list item,” she mumbles.

  “Mmm. Well, if this is a fantasy,” I trail off, letting my knuckles brush over her stomach just above her jeans.

  A light flashes on us and Avery freezes. I try not to laugh when we see a teenager dressed in the uniform for this place, aiming a flashlight at us. He almost looks as horrified as Avery does at us being caught.

  “I… I…” he starts before stumbling a, “Sorry, but-”

  “We know,” I interrupt him. “Sorry. We’ll behave,” I try not to laugh as Avery moves back to her seat. The kid nods and goes back down the stairs, glancing down every row. It’s not until he leaves the room that Avery looks over to me with a smile.

  “Happy?”

  “More than you know,” I reply, giving her a quick kiss before we watch the rest of the crappy movie. Afterward, Avery notices we’re not head home, so when she glances at me, I say, “There’s a part two.”

  “Okay.”

  When I park at the dance studio, Avery is even more confused than before. “We did something on my bucket list, so I wanted to do something on yours. Do you remember when we stayed up all night, talking?” She nods. “You told me then that you’ve always wanted to take lessons for ballroom dancing. Well, that’s why we’re here.”

  “Really?” she says, her eyes back on the building.

  “Yep. Let’s go dance, Avery.”

  Lucky for me, I have rhythm and so does Avery. Her smile is constant as our instructor starts telling us what we’re going to do and how to do it. Days like this are pure bliss. It’s not hard being a good husband as long as I consciously make the effort to do so. The way we’ve been lately reminds me a lot of how we were in the beginning. Avery smiles all the time, laughs at the silly things, and I make her happy. She does the same for me.

  Our path was so bright, yet we had strayed to darker areas in the last year. I truly believe that as long as we keep doing this, going out on dates, planning nights out together, and talking every day, we’ll continue being happy. She’s my wife, we’ve been together for five years, and I’ve found myself falling in love with Avery all over again every single day.

  On the way home, Avery holds my hand, gazing at me from the passenger seat. “Thanks, Jax. That was a lot of fun.”

  I kiss her knuckles. “Anything for my beautiful wife.”

  She smiles at me, my favorite thing to see.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Avery

  The only things on my mind right now is how happy I am and sex. Okay, maybe the sex is number one right now. I haven’t been with Jax in almost nine months. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. Hockey, work, life has all gotten in the way, but not right now.

  Tonight it’s us. The married couple, soul mates, and lovers.

  Jax practically drags me into the house. His legs were longer than mine, but I’m running right behind him. My body is shaking to have him inside me, to feel his lips all over me, and to make love to me in the only way he can.

  Jax kicks the door shut and pushes me against the wall. I tug at his shirt, pulling it over his head. He does the same with mine, and I’m already panting for him.

  I grab his face and pull him to me. He picks me up and I wrap my legs around him. I can feel him as he rubs against my jeans. He tugs my bra down, biting at my neck, down to my breasts.

  He stops and looks up at me. I hear it.

  His cell phone is ringing, and it’s the hockey tone.

  He reaches into his pocket and pulls it out.

  “Yeah,” he answers.

  I can hear someone talking fast, but it’s Jax’s face that says it all. He closes his eyes, like he’s in pain. I wrap my legs, and he sits me on my feet. I pull my bra back in place and pick up his shirt.

  “Yeah.” He says again and ends the call. He searching my face. I know that look. He has to leave.

  “It’s fine.” I put a smile on my face. “Go.” I hand him his shirt. I grab mine from the floor and jerk it on as I go to the kitchen.

  “Avery.” Jax grabs my arm and turns me around. “One of the rookies is in trouble.”

  I cup his face in my hands. “I understand. Go.”

  “You’re number one, Avery. I swear it.”

  I nod, trying not to cry.

  For the first time he looks worried. “Will you be here when I come back?”

  I step back as if I have been slapped. “Don’t ever ask me that again. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I know. I just,” he shakes his head.

  “Jax.” I kiss his lips. “Go, and when you come back, I’ll be right here waiting. I love you.”

  “I love you. I’m so sorry.”

  “Go, Jax. It’s fine,” I tell him bravely.

  This time last year Jax wouldn’t have hesitated to go, and now I can see that he’s torn.

  “Jax,” I say more firmly. “Your teammate needs you. Now, go.”

  He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly. “I’ll be back soon.” He grabs his keys, and he leaves.

  I hug my arms to my body. I keep repeating Jax’s words in my head. I’m number one. I shouldn’t be so selfish. I know it.

  I push my hands through my hair. I look around the house, trying to figure out what to do. I settle on lying in bed, waiting for Jax. I’m sure he won’t be gone long. I think I should be sexy for him when he gets back.

  I jog upstairs and into the bathroom. I fix my hair and touch up my makeup. I strip out of my clothes and go into his closet, pulling on one of his dress shirt. I leave a few buttons undone so he can see that I’m not wearing a bra. I find a lace thong that matches the shirt.

  I lay in bed and think about our night. He wanted to make out in the theater. I bite my lips thinking of him kissing me. However, it’s the fact that he took me to a ballroom lesson. I’ve always loved watching people who could do all those classic dances.

  Jax’s arms around me, leading me in circles on the hardwood floors, is something I don’t think that I could ever describe.

  He’s my soulmate.

  He’s the one.

  I close my eyes with a smile on my face. I am his number one.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Avery.” Jax’s voice is far away, like at the end of a tunnel.

  I moan.

  “Avery.” It’s coming closer. It’s soft, loving, and I can feel something skimming my legs.

  I moan louder.

  “Do you remember when I came home late fro
m games or traveling and I would wake you up like this?”

  My eyes flutter open the moment Jax inserts two fingers in me. I arch my back, gasping for air from the penetration.

  “You remember, don’t you?” he bites on my neck.

  Jax’s right. I do remember. He would always wake me up with sex. It didn’t matter to him, or to me, what time it was, or what we had to do the next day.

  I think I’m going to combust when he begins to use his thumb to work my clit. My body is craving him. He hasn’t touched me in so long.

  “Jax.” I pant his name.

  “You feel so good.”

  “Don’t stop.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” Jax smiles, bringing his mouth back to mine, driving his tongue in.

  Jax’s fingers don’t stop working on me and it doesn’t take long for the tension to build up through my body.

  I break the kiss because I can’t breathe. “Jax. Jax.” I say over and over again.

  “Give it to me, Avery. Come for me,” he orders and I comply. I can’t help yelling his name. I’ve never been one to be quiet in bed, and I think Jax has always liked that about me.

  “Good girl.” He kisses me tenderly on the lips. “Don’t think for a minute that we’re done.”

  “Thank God,” I smile at him, digging my hands into his messy dark hair, pulling him back into a kiss.

  I bite his bottom lip, and his moan is all I need. I push him onto his back and straddle him. I sit up and unbutton the dress shirt. I can see his chest going up and down with his heavy breathing. I purse my lips and keep my eyes locked on his as I take the shirt off.

  “I see you already took off my thong.”

  He squeezes my thighs. “It was in the way.”

  I smirk, leaning down, and kissing his chest. I work my way all the way down. I enjoy hearing his small moans and pants as I reach the spot I want. I stroke him a few times and keep my eyes on his.

  First, I lick the underside of his shaft from bottom to tip. Jax grabs a hold of my hair. Then I swirl my tongue around the tip, grazing my teeth gently against it. Jax hisses through his teeth. Lastly, I take him in my mouth. I’ve never been able to take him fully in my mouth, but he seems just as satisfied with what I can do.