Page 55 of Triple Power Play 3
He juts his chin toward the kitchen.
I curl my lip. “Reece?”
He shrugs. “It’s easier with him here. I have a lot less to worry about.”
“Except he’s in love with her. Do you not worry about that?”
Leaning in, he lowers his tone. “Don’t you want someone who loves her to care for her? I like knowing we can focus on our jobs without worrying about her and our family. With him here, I know he won’t let anything happen to her—oryou.If you haven’t noticed, you two take a lot of energy. Imagine adding a baby.”
“I don’t have to play.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. “I want you to play. I want to coach you. You’re talented, and it’s good for you. I’ll never force you or hold our relationship over your head, but we can make this work.”
A thought comes to mind, and I can’t hide my grin. I see why Aurora acts like a brat to get his attention. “I’ll play, just maybe not score. I’m not feeling very motivated.”
“You’ll score.”
I cock a brow. “Will I?”
He hits me with that death glare. “I can be very creative with punishments, Jax. Don’t test me.”
My stomach does somersaults. Why is my stomach doing somersaults? Fuck, do Iwanthim to punish me, to be rough with me? Damn, I think I do. “Oh, yeah?” That’s it. Two words. That’s all I manage.
“Yeah,” he answers with certainty. “Did you know there’s a birth control that lasts up to five years? Another kid while I’m coaching might not be a good idea. I’m sure Aurora will understand.”
All playfulness, or desire, or whatever I was feeling, dies. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“If I have to worry about you two and can’t focus on my jobandmy star player isn’t performing…I won’t have the energy for sex or a second baby.”
“You manipulative bastard. I hate you. You better take some fucking vitamins and Viagra.”
He chuckles and heads back to the closet.
“I’m serious! I’m only twenty-five, old man.”
He throws another pile of clothes onto the bed. “We can all get what we want.”
“He has a career. You don’t even know where this’ll lead.”
“I do. I once joked about bringing a fourth into this love triangle, and she namedhim. Have you ever seen her comfortable enough to hug someone else? He’s confused, thinks she’s just affectionate. She’s not. I’ve watched her around Grant. She gives him a stiff, half-assed hug.” He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. “She won’t cheat on us, but she asked for him specifically as her bodyguard.”
A derisive scoff escapes me. “He wants more than that.”
“She’s pregnant. Maybe if she wasn’t…”
More reason to have another one. “I can fix that.”
I pack and mull over his words. When we finish, I grab a bag and hoist it over my shoulder. “You’re saying with Reece around, you’ll be less stressed? You’d be open to seeing where this leads and having a bigger family?”
“Theoretically, yes.” He zips up a duffel. “You ready, brat, or you gonna pout some more?”
I shake my head. “The shit I do for you.”
He weaves his fingers through my hair. “Don’t act like you don’t like it.”
25
AURORA
