Chapter 158
JAX
The warmth of the Jacuzzi immediately eased the tension in my muscles as I slid in beside Isabella. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the candles around us reflecting off the water. The bubbles created a soft, comforting sound, and for the first time in weeks, everything felt… calm.
Isabella leaned back against the edge, her eyes closed, a slight smile on her lips. She was slowly coming back to herself, the weight of our troubles lifting, even if only for the moment. It was a relief to see. We hadn’t been this close in weeks, and it felt like I’d been walking on a tightrope ever since. Just being near her again, like this, was more than I could’ve hoped for.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to me, a playful glint returning to her gaze. “You know, we could’ve just stayed at the penthouse. This place must have cost a fortune.”
I chuckled, sinking deeper into the water, letting my arm rest along the back of the tub behind her. “You’re worth every penny. Besides, when was the last time we had a night away? No pack business, no responsibilities, just us?”
She shook her head with a smile. “Still, I hope they throw in breakfast for what you must’ve paid.”
I laughed, and it felt good. Light. Easy. “I’ll make sure to order the entire breakfast menu, just to get our money’s worth.”
She laughed too, and the sound was like music to my ears. God, I’d missed this—missed her. The way she looked at me, how she smiled when she wasn’t weighed down by everything. It had been so long since we’d been able to just be us.
She rested her arms on the edge of the tub, her fingers tracing lazy patterns in the water. “So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?” she asked, her voice soft and curious. “Or have you already planned everything out?”
I smirked. “Well, I figured we could do whatever you want for the rest of the afternoon. But I did make a dinner reservation.”
Her eyebrow quirked up, intrigued. “Oh? And where exactly are we going?”
“That’s a surprise,” I teased, leaning a little closer. “But trust me, you’ll love it.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled, her expression softening. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn’t holding back, wasn’t guarded. I could see the woman I loved shining through again.
There was a moment of quiet, the kind of silence that’s comfortable and familiar. I reached over, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. She looked at me, her eyes searching mine, and before I knew it, we were leaning toward each other.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative—like we were rediscovering each other after so much distance. But then it deepened, and all the pent-up emotions, the tension, the longing, came rushing to the surface. My hands found her waist, pulling her closer as the water rippled around us. Her hands slid up my chest, and in that instant, everything else melted away.
Weeks of guilt, frustration, and uncertainty vanished as we gave in to the moment. I couldn’t get enough of her—the taste of her lips, the feel of her skin. She was all I wanted, all I needed, and I could feel it in the way she clung to me, how much she had missed this too.
We moved together in the water, slow and deliberate, as if we had all the time in the world. The Jacuzzi jets bubbled around us, but all I could focus on was her. The way her body felt pressed against mine, the way her breath hitched as I kissed her neck. It had been so long since we’d made love like this—since we’d let ourselves just feel without the weight of everything hanging over us.
When it was over, we stayed there, tangled in each other, the water still warm around us. I pressed a kiss to her forehead, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t want to break the silence, didn’t want to ruin this fragile moment of peace we’d found. I held her close, feeling her heartbeat against mine, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I dared to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could go back to how they were.
Maybe we were finally finding our way back to each other.
ISABELLA
I hadn’t planned on sleeping with Jax, but after it happened, I felt strangely at peace with the decision. As I sat in the hotel room, watching him move around with a satisfied smile on his face, I knew I couldn’t deny how much I loved him—how much I loved all three of them, despite everything. Jax had been doing everything in his power to make things right, and as much as I’d resisted at first, there was something comforting about letting my guard down, even just a little.
He handed me the long, black dress he’d brought, and I ran my fingers over the soft fabric. The slit up the side immediately made me feel bold, sexy, like I could take on the world. I hadn’t felt this way in a long time, and I caught myself smiling as I slipped into it. It clung to me in all the right places, and when I looked in the mirror, I saw a woman who was starting to rediscover herself, little by little.
"You look incredible," Jax said, his eyes darkening with appreciation as he stepped up behind me, his hands lightly resting on my hips. I leaned back into him for a moment, enjoying the warmth of his touch, before turning around to face him.
"Thank you for this," I said softly, meaning more than just the dress. "For tonight, for everything."
He smiled, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "You deserve it. All of it."
When we arrived at the restaurant, I was surprised to see that it wasn’t just any place—it was the place. The same little spot where we’d had our first date, years ago. I stood at the entrance, blinking in disbelief as I took it all in. The intimate setting, the familiar scent of the food, the soft lighting—it all came rushing back to me.
"Jax, I can’t believe you remembered," I said, my voice soft with surprise.
He grinned, that charming smile of his lighting up his face. "Of course I did. How could I forget? This place was the start of everything."
I looked around, memories of that first night flooding back. We had been so nervous back then, both of us unsure of where things would go. Now, after everything we’d been through, it felt like coming full circle. A fresh start, maybe. Or at least the beginning of one.
We were seated at a table near the window, the same one we’d had that night. Jax pulled out my chair for me, his old-fashioned manners always making me smile. As we sat down, the familiar atmosphere began to work its magic. The conversation flowed naturally, and for a while, it felt like everything else faded into the background.
"I know things haven’t been easy," Jax said after a pause, his hand reaching across the table to take mine. "But I’m trying, Isabella. I’m trying to show you that I’ll always be here. For you. For Luca."
I squeezed his hand, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I know, Jax. I see it. And it means more to me than you realize."
The rest of the night felt like a dream, the kind where you want to savor every moment. The food was delicious, the wine smooth, and the company perfect. As we laughed and reminisced about our first date, I felt lighter than I had in weeks.
Maybe I hadn’t planned any of this, but sitting there with Jax, in that familiar place, I realized that sometimes, the best things in life weren’t planned. They just happened. And sometimes, you had to let yourself embrace the unexpected.