Chapter 85

ISABELLA

After the previous night’s emotional whirlwind, the boys were even more protective than usual. Asher and Knox had left for the office early, but Jax stayed behind, claiming he had some work to catch up on. I knew the real reason, though. They didn’t want to leave me alone, especially after my little breakdown in the kitchen.

It was sweet, but also a bit suffocating. I didn’t need a babysitter, but I understood their concern. This pregnancy was a rollercoaster, and I was clinging to them more than I wanted to admit.

I wandered through the penthouse, eventually finding myself at Jax’s office door. The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear the faint sound of his keyboard clicking away. I hesitated for a moment, then knocked lightly before pushing the door open.

He looked up from his computer screen, a small smile tugging at his lips when he saw me. “Hey, Bella. Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “I just wanted to check on you. See if you needed anything. Maybe grab a bite to eat?”

He pushed his chair back slightly, stretching his arms above his head. “I could eat, but I don’t want you overexerting yourself. You’ve been so tired lately.”

“I’m fine,” I assured him, stepping closer to his desk. “Actually, I’ve been feeling a bit different today.”

“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

I nodded, feeling a spark of mischief bubbling up inside me. For the past few weeks, exhaustion had been my constant companion, but today was different. Today, there was something else simmering beneath the surface—a restless energy that had nothing to do with fatigue.

As I moved closer, I could see the shift in Jax’s expression. He was watching me carefully, his eyes darkening with interest. “Different how?” he asked, his voice low and filled with a hint of something more.

“I don’t know,” I murmured, leaning over the desk just enough so that he could catch a whiff of my perfume, see the way my blouse dipped slightly to reveal a hint of cleavage. “Just… different.”

I saw the way his breath hitched, how his gaze flickered to my lips, then back to my eyes. The tension in the room thickened, and I knew I had him.

“Bella…” he began, but I was already moving around the desk, stepping into his space.

“Jax,” I whispered, sliding onto his lap, my legs straddling his thighs as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “You’ve been working so hard. Don’t you think you deserve a break?”

He swallowed hard, his hands instinctively resting on my hips, as if unsure whether to pull me closer or push me away. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked, his voice strained with the effort to hold back.

“I’m very sure,” I breathed against his ear, pressing myself against him.

That was all the encouragement he needed. His resolve snapped, and he captured my lips in a fierce kiss, his hands tightening on my waist as if he couldn’t get me close enough. I moaned into his mouth, the heat between us building rapidly as he lifted me slightly and set me on his desk.

His hands roamed over my body, exploring every curve, every dip and rise as if memorizing me all over again. I tugged at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine, and he responded with equal urgency, pulling my blouse over my head and tossing it aside.

We made love right there on his desk, the passion between us intense and consuming. Every touch, every kiss felt like fire, and I couldn’t get enough. This was what I needed—this connection, this affirmation that despite everything, we were still us, still strong.

When it was over, we lay together for a moment, catching our breath, the room filled with the scent of our union. Jax’s fingers traced lazy patterns on my back, and I smiled against his chest, feeling more at peace than I had in weeks.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

I smiled, feeling a flush of satisfaction. “I could say the same about you.”

He chuckled softly, holding me close. “I’m glad you’re feeling better today, Bella. I don’t like seeing you so stressed.”

“I know,” I said, my voice softening. “But with you guys by my side, I know I can handle anything.”

He lifted my chin, his eyes filled with warmth as he gazed down at me. “And we’ll be here every step of the way.”

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, savoring the quiet moments of intimacy. Eventually, the reality of the day crept back in, and we both knew it was time to get back to work.

JAX

As soon as Isabella left my office, I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. My entire body still hummed with the afterglow of our time together. She had a way of making everything feel right, even in the middle of all the chaos surrounding us. It was like we were the only two people in the world, even if just for a little while.

I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair as I replayed the last few minutes in my mind. The way she moved, the way she looked at me with that mixture of mischief and desire—it was enough to send my heart racing all over again. I could still feel her warmth, smell her scent lingering in the air. Yeah, I was definitely on cloud nine.

Just as I was about to dive back into my work, my phone buzzed on the desk. I picked it up, expecting a message about some mundane business matter. But when I saw Asher's name on the screen, something in my chest tightened. I opened the message, and my heart skipped a beat.

We have the identity of Isabella's stalker.

That was it. No details, no explanations—just that one line.

And suddenly, everything shifted. The warmth, the satisfaction from moments before—gone, replaced by a cold, hard reality. The high I’d been riding crashed down around me as a hundred thoughts raced through my mind. Who was it? How had they found out? And most importantly, how could we keep Bella safe?

My hands clenched around the phone, and I stared at the message, feeling the weight of what it meant settle over me like a dark cloud. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

But one thing was clear: whoever this person was, they had no idea who they were dealing with. We’d protect Isabella with everything we had. There was no other option.