The grand party orchestrated by Gemma unfolded flawlessly, a testament to her meticulous planning. To alleviate any concerns about dinner, she had arranged for a delectable catering service, ensuring everyone could focus on the joyous occasion. Little Abel, the star of the show, was passed from one loving family member to another. Unlike most infants who might have protested such a constant rotation, Abel thrived on the attention, radiating happiness as he was showered with affection. His contented demeanor was truly remarkable, as he only exhibited fussiness once – when hunger struck. At that point, Gemma whisked him away to his tranquil nursery, where she lovingly fed him his bottle, leaving Jax and Avery free to continue enjoying the company of their guests.

However, as the clock neared 11:00 PM, the atmosphere began to shift. The party, as if by unspoken agreement, started migrating towards the club house, a collective desire for a change of scenery. Avery, despite her earlier contentment, couldn't have been happier. While she genuinely appreciated the outpouring of love and support for her, Jax, and especially Abel, a quiet longing for intimate time with just her new little family had been steadily growing within her.

Finally, with the last of the guests having departed, Avery savored the newfound solitude in the only way she knew how. She, Jax, and Abel nestled together on the comfortable couch, a picture of domestic bliss. Abel, his tiny body resting contentedly on her chest, seemed equally delighted to be alone with his two favorite men. Yet, as she relished the quiet intimacy of the moment, a subtle thought began to surface in her mind: was Jax, perhaps, missing the lively party? A gentle curiosity compelled her to voice her unspoken question, needing to understand his feelings in this tranquil aftermath.

"And give up my time with you and Abel on the first day home? Not a fucking chance." Jax's voice was a low rumble as he placed a tender kiss on her forehead, his eyes full of devotion. The scent of her hair, a mix of vanilla and something uniquely Avery, filled his senses, grounding him after the long journey.

"Good answer, Teller," Avery purred, a playful glint in her eyes. "That just might get you a reward tonight." Her fingers traced the line of his jaw, a light, teasing touch that promised more.

Jax's brow furrowed in mock confusion, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "What kind of reward?" he asked, his voice laced with anticipation. He knew exactly what kind of reward she was hinting at, and the thought sent a jolt of heat through him.

"The kind that is beneficial to both of us," Avery whispered, leaning closer, her breath warm against his ear. "The kind that ends up with both of us being left breathless and feeling boneless." She knew she was playing with fire, stoking a flame that had been simmering between them all day. But after watching him take such good care of Abel during the drive home, patient and loving, and then effortlessly charming everyone at the party, she would be lying if she said that she wasn't completely and utterly turned on. Seeing Jax in such a parental role, so effortlessly responsible and tender, just made him all the more sexier in her opinion.

"And when will I get this reward?" Jax's voice was a low growl now, his fingers tracing the curve of her hip, a silent plea for more. The air between them crackled with unspoken desire.

Avery leaned back, a triumphant smile on her face. "Just as soon as I get this little guy laid down," she said, nodding towards the still-sleeping Abel in the other room. "How's that work for ya?"

"Sounds like a plan," Jax said, a satisfied smirk spreading across his face as he stood from his position on the couch, stretching his broad shoulders. He felt a delicious tremor of anticipation.

"Good. Meet me in the bedroom in 10," Avery commanded, her voice dropping to a seductive murmur. She watched him walk away, a slow burn starting deep within her, promising a night of passion and release. The thought of him, stripped bare and vulnerable, made her heart race. She couldn't wait.

After gently laying Abel in his crib, a soft smile played on Avery's lips. The quiet hum of the baby monitor was the only sound in the nursery. She grabbed the device, its small screen glowing faintly, and headed for her and Jax's room. A sense of anticipation, a gentle flutter in her chest, had been building all day, a feeling she couldn't quite pinpoint but nonetheless welcomed.

When she pushed open the door to their sanctuary, the sight before her stole her breath, sending it soaring straight out of her lungs. It wasn't just a romantic gesture; it was an artistic masterpiece of love and devotion. Every hard surface of their room—the dresser, the nightstands, even the top of the bookshelf—was covered in a constellation of flickering candles. Dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of tiny flames danced, casting a warm, romantic glow that chased away the shadows and painted the room in hues of amber and gold. The air was thick with the rich, velvety scent of roses, an intoxicating perfume that filled every corner. There were dozens and dozens of vibrant red roses, their petals still dewy, arranged in elegant vases on various surfaces, their crimson beauty a stark contrast to the soft candlelight. But the true pièce de résistance lay on the bed itself. There, carefully arranged, were countless rose petals, forming a perfect heart, and within its tender embrace, her and Jax's initials intertwined—A.L.M. and J.N.T.

Walking further into the room, Avery's steps were light, almost ethereal, as if she were moving through a dream. She noticed the soft, melodic strains of music playing, a subtle symphony that enhanced the enchantment of the moment. It was a tune they both loved, one that spoke of shared histories and whispered promises. So utterly lost was she in the beauty and the emotion of the scene that she didn't hear or see Jax emerge from the ensuite bathroom. He moved with a quiet grace, his eyes fixed on her, a tender smile gracing his lips.

"You like?" Jax's voice, a low rumble, wrapped around her as he enveloped her in his arms from behind, pulling her back against his strong chest. His chin rested gently on her shoulder, and she could feel the warmth of his breath on her neck.

A shiver of pure delight ran through her. "I think you know I do," Avery whispered, her voice thick with emotion, tilting her head back to rest against his.

Slowly, carefully, Jax spun Avery so that she was facing him. His hands, warm and gentle, cradled either side of her face, his thumbs stroking her cheekbones as he gazed down into her eyes. In their depths, she saw not just love, but a profound reverence, a vulnerability that made her heart ache with tenderness. Leaning forward, he placed a soft, lingering kiss on her lips, a silent promise, a shared breath. Then, he rested his forehead against hers, their eyes still locked, their breaths mingling in the quiet, fragrant air.

The two of them stood like that for a few precious moments, just holding one another, suspended in their own perfect bubble of love. The world outside ceased to exist; there was only them, the flickering candlelight, and the soft strains of music. But when Jax finally leaned back, his hands still on her face, and stared at her once again, Avery watched as his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, a nervous swallow. A sudden clarity dawned on her: Jax always did that when he was nervous, when something deeply important was about to happen. A thrill, a wild, exhilarating guess, shot through her.

"Avery Leigh Mitchell," Jax began, his voice a little rough around the edges, his gaze unwavering, "I love you with my whole fucking heart. I've loved you since I was 14 years old, since the moment I first saw you, even if I didn't know what it was then. I'm not good with expressing my feelings openly, you know that, so I'll make this as sweet as I can, as real as I can." As his words, raw and honest, filled the room, he slowly, gracefully, dropped to one knee, his eyes never leaving hers. From his pocket, he pulled out a small, velvet box, and with a gentle flick of his thumb, he opened it, revealing a ring that sparkled in the candlelight, a promise of forever.

The ring was nothing short of breathtaking—a symbol of forever, captured in light and fire. At its heart sat a radiant-cut diamond, clear as truth and fierce as love, sparkling with every hidden promise and whispered dream. The stone danced with light, as if it remembered every glance, every smile, every moment that had led to this one.

Its band split gracefully like the path of two souls coming together, meeting in perfect harmony beneath the brilliance of the center stone. Delicate pavé diamonds shimmered along the split shank, each one a memory, a heartbeat, a vow—quiet and eternal.

Crafted in gleaming white gold, or perhaps platinum, the metal glowed with a cool, celestial luster, cradling the gem like the moon holds the stars. It wasn't just a ring. It was a story—one of strength, of tenderness, and of a love bold enough to last a lifetime.

"Baby, I love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my entire life. Even when we were not together, it was you that I wanted, the constant ache in my chest a testament to your absence. And now that I have you back in my life, I'm not going to let you go... ever. Every fiber of my being tells me you're the one. Spend the rest of your life with me, by my side through every joy and challenge. Be the first person I see when I wake, your face a beacon of hope and love to start each day. Be the last person I see before I fall asleep, your presence a comforting blanket wrapping around me. You already have my heart, stolen completely the moment I first saw you, so now please take my last name. Be my wife, my partner, my everything. Marry me, Avery, and make me the happiest man alive."

Avery's head was spinning, a whirlwind of emotions and disbelief. She couldn't help but think how profoundly ironic it was that just hours earlier, she had been contemplating the very idea of them being married, and now here he was, Jax, on one knee, proposing to her. But the lingering doubts she'd harbored earlier, the thoughts about her and Jax perhaps not being ready for such a profound commitment, weren't there anymore. They had vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of certainty and rightness. No, she certainly hadn't woken up this morning with any inkling that she would be engaged to someone she had only been in a relationship with for a matter of weeks. The rapid progression of their rekindled romance was astonishing, even to her.

You've known him longer than that, Avery's subconscious whispered, a gentle, irrefutable truth cutting through the immediate surprise.

And her subconscious was undeniably right. She had known Jax for far longer than a few weeks; their history stretched back years, a tapestry woven with shared laughter, unspoken understanding, and the lingering threads of a love that had never truly faded. She couldn't imagine spending another day on this earth without him, the thought alone causing a pang of emptiness. All those years spent in North Carolina, the quiet solitude, the persistent ache of his absence, all the hurt she had felt when he wouldn't move away with her—all of it seemed to dissolve in that moment, melting away like snow in the sun. For the first time in 10 years, she felt the immense weight of all that lost time, all that unspoken longing, lift miraculously from her shoulders. It was as if a heavy cloak had been removed, revealing a path she'd almost given up on. She saw the life she wanted, the life she had dreamed of but rarely believed attainable, was suddenly, miraculously, within her reach. This was her chance, a golden opportunity to finally be happy and to live the life that she had always wanted, full of love, connection, and a future she could truly embrace. So, without giving it a second thought, without a single hesitation, Avery's voice, thick with emotion, cracked as she managed to say, "Yes. A million times yes!" as tears of overwhelming joy streamed freely down her face, blurring the edges of the perfect moment.

With shaky hands, hands that trembled with a mixture of excitement and profound emotion, she watched, mesmerized, as Jax, his eyes shining with a love that mirrored her own, gently slipped the exquisite ring onto her finger. The diamond caught the light, sparkling like a tiny constellation, a promise of forever. She wondered if she had ever, in her entire life, seen anything as utterly breathtakingly sexy as Jax on one knee, his gaze fixed on her, sliding that symbol of their future onto her finger. The next thing she knew, before she could even fully process the enormity of what had just happened, she was being lifted effortlessly into his strong arms, and Jax's mouth, warm and tender, was covering hers. The kiss was a torrent of pent-up emotion, a celebration of their shared past and their burgeoning future. With her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist, holding him close, their tongues tied in a familiar, passionate dance, a dance they enjoyed so often, a dance that spoke volumes without a single word. Their hands, eager and knowing, roamed over one another, leaving no area untouched, reaffirming their connection, their undeniable chemistry. But all too soon, and far too quickly for her liking, the intoxicating kiss was broken, though the lingering warmth of his lips remained.

Suddenly, with a playful growl that sent shivers down her spine, she was gently, yet decisively, thrown onto the soft expanse of the bed, the mattress yielding beneath her. And then Jax was climbing up on top of her, his weight a comforting presence, his eyes blazing with a desire that matched her own. Sealing his mouth over hers once more, he proceeded to kiss her to within an inch of her life, a kiss that promised an eternity of passion, a future filled with moments just like this.