Page 50 of The Sin Bin

"I've been thinking about getting him a companion, actually," Jax admitted. "Mr. Collins mentioned that bonded pairs often do better when their owners have irregular schedules."

"He's right," Lauren said. "It can significantly reduce stress-related behaviors. Did you have a specific cat in mind?"

"There's a three-legged tortoiseshell at the shelter," Jax said. "Been there six months. Everyone passes her by because of the missing leg, but she's got personality for days. Reminds me of someone else."

The implied comparison wasn't lost on Lauren, a flush rising to her cheeks. "Are you comparing me to a three-legged cat?"

"Stubborn, independent, beautiful, and tougher than she looks?" Jax countered with a smile. "If the shoe fits..."

Lauren rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. "You're impossible."

"So I've been told," Jax agreed amiably. "Usually by coaches and referees, though, not by beautiful veterinarians."

The casual compliment deepened the color in Lauren's cheeks, and Jax admired the way it contrasted with her blonde hair. She truly was beautiful, especially like this—relaxed, in her own space, her guard lowered.

"I missed you," he said suddenly, the admission slipping out before he could measure it. "These past three days. Is that strange to say?"

Lauren's expression softened, vulnerability replacing her usual composure. "No," she said quietly. "I missed you too."

The simple confirmation eased something in Jax's chest, a tension he hadn't fully acknowledged until it released. Setting aside his sandwich, he reached across the table, his hand open in invitation. After only a moment's hesitation, Lauren placed her palm against his, their fingers intertwining.

"This feels so surreal," she said. "I can't believe we've only known each other a month."

"Are we going too fast? Too slow?" Jax asked, genuinely wanting to know. He'd spent most of his adult life keeping people at a distance, focusing on hockey to the exclusion of meaningful relationships. The intensity of his feelings for Lauren after such a relatively short time both exhilarated and terrified him.

"I don't know," she admitted honestly. "Both? And yet..."

"It feels right anyway," Jax finished, squeezing her hand gently.

Lauren nodded.

"You're a professional hockey player in the middle of a playoff push," Lauren pointed out. "I'm a veterinarian with trust issues and an overbooked schedule. On paper, this makes no sense."

"And off paper?"

"Off paper, I can't seem to stop thinking about you. Or wanting to be with you. Or wondering what happens next."

The admission, so honest and unguarded, struck Jax with its significance. Lauren didn't strike him as someone who opened up easily, who admitted vulnerability readily. That she would do so with him felt like a gift he wasn't sure he deserved but was determined to honor.

Rising from his chair, he moved around the table, tugging her gently to her feet. When she stood before him, her head tilted back to meet his gaze, Jax reached up to cup her face with both hands, his touch reverent.

"What happens next," he said softly, "is whatever we want to happen. At whatever pace feels right. No pressure, no expectations. Just us figuring it out together."

Lauren's hands came to rest on his chest, the warmth of her touch penetrating his thin henley. "That sounds remarkably reasonable for a man who hits people for a living," she teased, though her eyes remained serious.

"I'm full of surprises," Jax replied, his voice dropping to a low rumble that made Lauren's breath catch. He leaned down, his lips hovering just above hers. "Want to discover a few more?"

Lauren's fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, tugging him closer. "Show me," she whispered against his mouth.

Their lips met in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened, weeks of building attraction igniting between them. Lauren's arms slid around his neck as she rose on tiptoes to meet him more fully, her body pressing against his. Jax's hands moved to her waist, then lower, cupping her ass and lifting her slightly.

Lauren made a small, surprised sound against his mouth, then laughed softly as he lifted her completely, her legs wrapping around his waist.

"Too much?" he asked, pausing to look at her face.

"Not enough," she countered, her fingers threading through his hair as she claimed his mouth again.

Jax walked them backward until Lauren's back met the wall, giving him leverage to press his body more firmly against hers. The friction pulled a groan from deep in his chest, his arousal evident against the seam of her pants.

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