Page 57 of Timeless

“No. Not now. Not ever.” She crossed her arms. “I dragged you into my mess when I got in over my head once before and it resulted in you losing six years if your life. I will never put you in a position like that again.”

I didn’t need for her to say it. I didn’t need for her to even hint to the situation. I knew then. Right away. “Amber. I’m not leaving your life and I want in my son’s. You can choose how that goes. How and when he can see me. I’ll leave it all up to you. On one condition.”

She did something I wasn’t expecting. A tiny smile spread across her lips. “I remember a long time ago telling you my one condition.”

Her one condition of me not touching another female. Yeah, I remember it. And I remembered sticking to it to.

“Okay, what is it, Jax? What is your one condition? That you are assuming I’ll agree to,” she challenged me.

I wasn’t much of a gambler so I was hoping that she would take my deal. I knew deep down inside her, she wanted me to be part of Jack’s life. So, I was counting on that working in my favor.

“You don’t marry, see, or touch another man.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You aren’t serious, are you?”

I was deadly fucking serious. “I’ll jump through whatever hoops you want me to jump through. I’ve been sober for six years, off the drugs and the drink, so I can stay off them if that is something you want. I’ll do anything, Amber. If you agree to that.”

She just stared at me.

“That means you break it off with Will,” I added. I knew that was going to be the hardest thing for her to do. Because she cared for him. I saw that at Jack’s party when he wrapped his arms around her. I saw it in the pictures that decorated her hallway.

She didn’t just care for Will but my son did, too. So, I knew it was somewhat mean of me to cut a man out of my son’s life who he had been looking at as a father.

But in order for me to get my family back together, I had to. I had to get Will out of the picture.

“I know you were planning on marrying him. I know he has been a father figure to Jack. So, I understand if you don’t want to break up with him. I get it, if that is the thing holding you back.” I had to be understanding of her situation. I was putting her in a tough corner.

She closed her mouth and took a sobering breath in. “Jax, I…”

I was ready for it. For the excuses on why she couldn’t do it. I was selfish to ask it of her. But I wanted her back. I wanted to prove to her over time I deserved her, and then once she saw that I did deserve her, I wanted her back in my arms. I knew it would take time for her trust me again. Which was why I needed her away from other men who might charm her and take her from me completely.

Her ran a hand through her long black hair and then her eyes dropped to my chest, and she just stared.

I bet she had mine covered years ago. She wasn’t afraid of the pain of a needle. She could easily have her whole side covered now. My name probably blended into whatever art work she had picked to cover her past with.

I was part of her past and now I was hoping, praying, and begging that she would let me back in her life and my son’s.

She got up from off the bed and walked toward me, her eyes still on the tattoo.

“Will made it a condition that I got your name covered.” Her hand went out and I was positive she was going to touch it, and then remembered my last reaction to her touching and pulled her hand away.

So, I was right. She did get my name covered.

Made sense. Didn’t hold it against her.

“Well, sweetheart, any man planning a future with you would want you to cover my name.” Wasn’t a big deal that she had.

Suddenly, she gripped the bottom of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head, dropping it on the floor.

I swallowed sharply, seeing her bare skin and black bra. She always wore black well. It suited her. I saw the tattoos along her stomach and then I spotted something I hadn’t seen before. A thin, dull line.

She had been so worried about my stomach, and now I was worried about hers.

“What is that scar?” I reached out to touch it. She didn’t brush my fingers off her. Instead, she let me touch her.

“It’s um, from the C-section.”

I looked up at her. “Jack was a C-section?”

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