Page 30 of The Sin Bin

"About why you're so careful not to," she countered, surprising him with her perception. "About why restraint matters to you."

Jax swallowed hard, feeling oddly exposed. "The team's become my family now," he said, steering toward safer ground. "Different kind of bond, but it matters."

"I saw that tonight," Lauren said, setting her water down. "The way you watched out for Oliver, for Ethan. It's more than just being teammates."

"Hockey's weird that way. You spend more time with these guys than anyone else in your life. Share hotel rooms, long flights, wins, losses. You see each other at your best and absolute worst." Jax shrugged. "Hard not to become family after all that."

Lauren moved closer, looking up at him with genuine curiosity. "And where do I fit into all this? The charity event you mentioned... is that, um..." she hesitated, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is that a date?"

The directness of the question caught Jax off guard, but he appreciated her straightforwardness. "I'd like it to be," he admitted. "If that's something you want."

Lauren's cheeks flushed, but she held his gaze. "I think I'd like that too."

The air between them seemed to charge with electricity. Jax was acutely aware of how close she stood, how easily he could reach out and touch her. As if reading his thoughts, Lauren moved closer still, her eyes dropping briefly to his lips.

"I should probably go," she said softly, making no move to leave.

"Probably," Jax agreed, not stepping back.

Instead, he reached out slowly, giving her every chance to pull away, and brushed that rebellious strand of hair behind her ear again. His fingers lingered, tracing the delicate curve of her jaw. Lauren's breath hitched, her eyes darkening as she leaned imperceptibly into his touch.

"Lauren," he murmured, her name a question and permission all at once.

She answered by rising onto her toes, closing the distance between them. The first brush of her lips against his was tentative, questioning. Jax remained perfectly still, letting her set the pace, hyperaware of the size difference between them, wanting her to feel completely in control.

But when her hands came up to rest on his chest, fingers curling slightly into his shirt, something broke loose inside him. He deepened the kiss, one hand sliding to her waist while the other cradled the back of her head, his touch deliberately gentle despite the hunger building inside him.

Lauren made a small sound against his mouth, pressing closer, her body melting into his. Jax felt the last of his restraint slipping as her hands moved up to his shoulders, then to the back of his neck, fingers grazing his shaved head in a touch that sent electric currents down his spine.

The kiss intensified, months of tension and attraction crystallizing into this moment. Lauren's mouth opened under his, her tongue meeting his with a boldness that made his head spin. Jax backed her slowly toward the wall, crowding her space in a way that felt possessive rather than threatening, his body curving protectively around hers.

Just as his hand slid lower, tracing the curve of her hip, a sharp pain shot through his ankle. They broke apart with startled gasps to find Penalty attacking Jax's sock-covered foot with murder in his tiny eyes.

"Shit," Jax hissed, more from surprise than pain. "Penalty! Knock it off!"

Lauren burst into laughter, the tension broken. "I think someone's jealous," she said, her voice husky and breathless in a way that made Jax want to immediately resume where they'd left off.

"Bad timing, buddy," Jax told the kitten, who looked entirely unrepentant as he continued to bat at Jax's foot.

Lauren bent to scoop up the kitten, her cheeks flushed and her lips slightly swollen from their kiss. The sight made Jax's chest tighten with a mix of desire and something deeper, something that scared him with its intensity.

"I really should go," she said, and this time she sounded like she meant it, though regret tinged her voice. "Early surgery, remember?"

Jax nodded, struggling to get his racing pulse under control. "Rain check?"

The corner of her mouth curled up in a small smile that promised everything. "Definitely."

He walked her to the door, the air between them charged with new awareness. At the threshold, Lauren paused, looking up at him with those clear green eyes.

"I'm glad I brought your jacket back tonight," she said softly.

"Me too," Jax replied, resisting the urge to pull her back into his arms.

She pressed a quick, chaste kiss to his cheek, then slipped out the door before he could respond. "Goodnight, Jax."

"Goodnight, Lauren," he managed, watching her walk toward the elevator.

When the doors closed behind her, Jax leaned against his doorframe, blood still roaring in his ears. "Holy shit," he whispered to the empty hallway.

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