2 MONTHS LATER
A large checkered picnic basket stretched over the soft grass, covered in half eaten snacks, opened soda cans, and a speaker playing just low enough to set the mood. The air was warm, filled with the sound of distant laughter and rustling of leaves. It was peaceful, a stark contrast to everything they had been through.
Jax was sprawled out, arms behind his head, sunglasses resting on his nose. He looked effortlessly cool, as usual. Grace sat cross-legged beside him, absentmindedly picking at a piece of bread, while Maya and Theo were in the middle of a full on roast battle.
"I'm just saying," Maya smirked, "you talk a big game, Theo, but I have yet to see you actually win at anything."
Theo scoffed, sitting up. "Excuse me? I literally carried our team in dodgeball last week."
"Oh please," Maya laughed, "you tripped over your own foot and took out half the team, including yourself."
Amber snickered, resting her head on Rowan's shoulder. "She's got a point, babe."
Rowan shook his head. "Man, I told you to just take the L."
Theo groaned, dramatically flopping back on the blanket. "You guys are so fake."
Maya grinned triumphantly, popping a grape into her mouth.
Then, Amber cleared her throat dramatically, and all eyes turned on her and Rowan, who sat a little too close, their fingers entwined just subtly enough to be obvious.
"So," Amber smirked, "Rowan and I have an announcement.
Grace arched a brow. "You're finally admitting that you've been secretly dating?"
Amber's jaw dropped, "How did you-"
"Amber please," Jax smirked, adjusting his sunglasses. "We've known for weeks."
Rowan rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Was it that obvious."
"Oh, totally," Theo chimed in, "You two are disgustingly cute."
Maya sighed dramatically, "We've been suffering in silence."
Amber groaned, leaning into Rowan's shoulder. "Ugh. You guys suck."
Jax chuckled, shifting slightly, just enough that his knee lightly knocked against Graces.
She didn't move away.
Instead, she stole a glance at him, only to find him already looking at her
Then, Rowan clapped his hands together. "Alright, alright, enough about us, what about Maya and Theo?"
Maya blinked, 'what about us?"
Rowan smirked, "when are you two gonna admit there's something there?"
Theo choked on his drink, Maya nearly smacked him. "Are you insane?" Maya gaped.
"Yeah," Theo added quickly, "we'd literally kill each other before that happens."
Jax raised an eyebrow, "Interesting how neither of you actually denied it."
Maya and Theo shared a look, then at the same time, "In your dreams."
The group erupted into laughter, but Grace barely heard it, because Jax's knee was still pressed against hers, and she could feel his gaze on her.
She turned, just slightly, and she caught that faint smirk on his lips.
---
That night at the beach resort, most of the guests had retreated to their rooms. Jax stood outside the girl's room, running a hand through his hair. His heart was pounding.
Tonight was the night.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked.
Inside, Maya and Amber exchanged a knowing look.
Grace, who had just finished brushing her hair, looked up. "Who's that?"
Amber dramatically gasped, hand over her heart. "Could it be...the one and only Jax Reed?"
Grace glared at them, but her stomach flipped as she headed for the door, then she opened it and there he was.
Jax stood there, hands in his pockets, looking uncharacteristically nervous.
"We need to talk," he said.
Amber coughed something that sounded suspiciously like, "finally."
Maya kicked the doorframe. "Go. Don't do anything we wouldn't do."
Grace rolled her eyes but followed Jax out into the hallway, where he silently led her down the corridor, past the guest rooms, until they reached another door.
"Wait, whose room is this?" she asked.
Jax pulled out a keycard and swiped it through the lock. The door clicked open.
"Mine," he said, stepping inside.
Grace hesitated, glancing around the empty hall before following him in.
The room was dimly lit, the ocean breeze drifting through the slightly open balcony door as the soft sound of waves crashing filled the space.
Jax turned to her. Then finally, "I like you Grace."
When Grace heard those words, she felt her heart stop.
"I-" she stammered, but he stepped closer, his gaze locked on hers.
"I don't just like you," he continued, his voice low and rough carried with emotions. "I want you. I need you. And I can't pretend like this thing between us isn't real."
Grace opened her mouth only for Jax to keep going.
"I was gonna wait," he admitted. "Thought I'd let things settle. Thought maybe I'd give you space. But then I realized I'm tired pf pretending. Tired of acting like I don't care when I do, when I've cared for a long time."
Her pulse was racing.
Because, god, she was about to say the same damn thing, "Jax..." she breathed.
But before she could say it, Jax moved.
His hands cupped her face, and his lips crashed against hers, it was not a soft kiss.
It was desperate, hungry, months of tension finally igniting into something incontrollable.
Grace gasped against his mouth, but she didn't pull away. She pressed closer, fingers digging into his shirt, gripping him like he was the only thing keeping her grounded.
Jax groaned, tilting his head back, deepening the kiss until she felt like she was melting into him.
Her back hit the wall, and his hands trailed down, gripping her waist, pulling her flush against him. The heat was unbearable, like wildfire spreading between them.
Grace finally pulled away, breathless, lips swollen.
"I was gonna say the same thing," she whispered.
Jax smirked, his forehead resting against hers, "Guess I beat you to it, huh?"
She shoved his chest playfully, but he caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. They weren't enemies anymore.
Then Jax's hands traced slow, deliberate paths down Grace's waist, his touch leaving fire in its wake. Grace shivered, but not from the cold, it was from the way his eyes darkened as he watched her, as if she was something that he craved for too long.
She leaned in first this time, pressing her lips to his with a softness that contradicted the urgency burning between them. Jax groaned against her mouth. lifting her effortlessly. as he carried her towards the bed like she weighed nothing.
Grace clung to him, hands threading through his air as he lowered her down, his weight pressing against her in a way that felt both intoxicating and grounding.
Their kisses grew slower and deeper, filled with unspoken promises. Their fingers roamed, their bodies pressed together and the world outside ceased to exist.
And when Jax finally slipped in Grace, he felt like they became one, it was not just about the desire as he thrusted passionately into her, his butt moving inwardly as Grace squirmed under the hot desire of Jax's member, it was a desire that had been simmering for months.
It was about trust.
About two souls who once warred against each other, now surrendering in the most intimate way possible.
As they moved together, their lips whispered names like prayers, it became clear this was never just passion.
They had both fallen in love.