Hi Readers: What did we think of this latest first chapter? I'd love to know what you think, as I really hope that I can get something started this time. I know that you guys have been patiently waiting for a new story from me, and I can only hope that I got it right.


Chapter Two
Sexy as Hell


Halstead Home, Naperville - The moment Jay got home from the office today, he felt a sense of relief. He felt relaxed and at ease. He felt like this was truly where he was supposed to be, rather than the place where he had to be. And right now, that's precisely how Alex wants her husband to feel. She doesn't want the man she loves to feel like he has an obligation to be somewhere, she wants him to feel like he's supposed to be somewhere. And just based on her husband's actions as he played with their dogs Bobby and Bella in the backyard of their home, Alex just knew that this was the place where he was supposed to be right now, which is precisely what she was in the midst of telling her brother-in-law as she spoke to him just an hour after seeing him. "So, you guys are in Naperville?" Alex agreed with her brother-in-law, having wanted to let him know where they were now, while also telling him that they were safe and just taking it easy. "Yeah. I know, you probably didn't need to know, but I just wanted to let you know in case." Will agreed with Alex.

Though, he actually did want to know. "The truth is, I was hoping that you would call and tell me where you guys were. As much as I want to let Jay grieve on his own, I also want to be able to see my brother if I need to; does that make sense?" Alex agreed with Will, as that most certainly does make sense. "Will, of course, that makes sense. I know that you and Jay need each other now more than ever. You guys are all you have left in the world, which is why Jay probably wanted to be at the office. So that he can be there with you and your father." Will agreed, as that made sense. "Yeah, I can see that being the case." Alex nodded. "However, I truly think that this is where Jay needs to be right now. However, I know that this is not just our home; so, please don't feel like you need to stay away. If anything, you, and Natalie should come on the weekends. I think me and Jay might stay here for a bit, get away. We haven't really had a chance to take time away with each other since the wedding, even our honeymoon was just like a three-day vacation."

Will agreed with Alex. "Well, I think we both know that our dad wasn't in the best place when you got married. Hell, I couldn't help but wonder if the wedding was a bit rushed since our dad was…" Alex sighed, as their wedding was rushed. "I hate to say it, but it was a bit rushed. Jay wanted his dad there, since he was the only parent you had left at the time. And I just knew he was the one, and I wanted that for him considering I would never get it…you know, with both my parents having died when I was two." Yes, both of Alex's parents are dead too. They died in a car crash after a drunk driver plowed right into them on I-95. Alex was the only one that survived the drive home from Walt Disney World to Chicago. "Alex, I hope you know that you don't need to repress the memories that you're feeling right now." Alex sighed. "I know. It's just hard. Being the only survivor of a crash. Then, your dad dies of a heart attack four months after I marry his son? You sure that I'm not bad luck?" Hearing his wife say that as he walked up to the deck, Jay smirked as he flirted.

As he flirted with his wife, the only woman he'll ever flirt with. "The only think you are, is sexy as hell." Jay said, as he walked up to his gorgeous wife this morning. "Who you on the phone with?" Putting her phone on speaker, Alex spoke to Will. "Jay's on." Will laughed. "Let me guess, you wanted to make me take the blame." Alex spoke to Will when he said that. "You texted me!" Will sighed, as that was true. "I know." Jay agreed with his brother as he stepped close to his wife, prior to wrapping his arm around her and bringing her gorgeous body against his chest. "It's ok. I know you're just concerned Will, but I'm home now and already feeling better…especially thanks to this gorgeous woman I have on my arm." Placing her hand on Jay's toned chest, Alex smirked as she stepped close to him and leaned in to kiss him softly. "I love you." Grabbing her robe, Jay proceeded to open it and smiled. "I love you too." He said, as he bent down and kissed his gorgeous wife softly; while also placing his hand on her hip as they both held each other close today.

After all, this is what Jay needs at the moment; it's what Alex needs at the moment as she tries to forget the fact that they're both orphans in this world. But, it's a hard reality that they always have to face. "You okay?" Alex agreed. "Yeah. Just hate having to see you in this position." Jay agreed with his wife, well aware of the reality she was talking about. It's why he wanted to make sure she was okay, just like he was now that he was home with her. "I'm just happy that we're home now." Alex agreed with her husband, as she felt the same way. She was glad that they were home, due to the fact that she just knew that this is where they needed to be right now. They need to be home with each other, where they can take it easy and just relax as they hold each other close. "How are Bobby and Bella? They running?" Jay agreed with Alex, before pointing down at Bella. "I think Bella wants you to throw her ball for her." Smiling, Alex bent down to do just that. After which, Bella ran away as she barked like normal; something which always made Alex smile.

But not as much as she smiled when she was close to Jay, just like she is right now. She's all cuddled up to her husband as she wrapped her arms around his muscular torso, something she always does when she's close to him. Meanwhile, Jay turned his head and pressed his lips to her forehead. "You want to go sit down? I can finish up with my brother and come join you?" Alex shook her head. "No, I was just coming out to see if you needed anything to eat. I called Hailey, said you didn't eat much today while you were at the office. So, I know you need to eat." Jay agreed with his wife. "I would love some of your PB&Js." Alex smiled as Jay said that. "Coming right up." She said, as she leaned up and kissed the man of her dreams softly. "Just make sure they stay out here. We both know that they love peanut butter." Jay laughed, well aware that's the truth. "Oh, I know it." Alex smiled as she heard Jay say that, before leaning in and kissing him softly. "See you inside soon." Jay agreed as he let Alex go, letting her walk away to go inside.

After which, he turned his attention back to his conversation with Will. "So, what does this do to the baby plans?" Hearing that on her way inside, Alex turned around to look at her husband. "WHAT BABY PLANS!" Groaning, Will answered. "Me and Natalie agreed to start trying for a baby." Alex just looked at her husband. "And you didn't tell me this, why?" Jay sighed. "I found out a few hours before my dad died." Alex agreed with her husband, feeling horrible about that. "Sorry Jay." Jay agreed with his wife as she said that, well aware that she was sorry. "I know. Just take a breath and relax. I'll see you in a minute." Alex agreed with her husband as she walked inside to go make them some lunch, while Jay went back to his conversation with Will. "So, what does it mean?" Will laughed. "Even after you get in trouble with your wife, that's still the question you want an answer to?" Jay agreed. "I need to know whether I need to start trying for a baby." Will sighed. "I asked Natalie to put it on hold for now. I'm not in the right headspace to try." Jay understood.

After all, they're in no space to have joy in their life; other than the joy that comes with love. "Yeah, I get that. But, uhm…listen, I want to talk to you about something else. I think I might take a leave of absence for a bit. Take some time away from the office and concentrate on my mental health." Will agreed. "I've been waiting to hear that honestly." Jay was surprised. "Really?" Will sighed. "Jay, you have PTSD. You had a bad relationship with dad at the end, and then we had those revelations. It's why I called Alex, as I knew that you weren't in the right headspace to work. I knew that you needed to take time away with your wife and just take it easy. So, I think that's what you need to concentrate on right now. Jay, concentrate on your wife and yourself right now. I'm sure we can figure something out. I mean that Jay." Jay agreed with his brother, deciding that now was a time to listen to him due to the fact that he's a doctor. "I hope you know that I still love you, regardless of how much we bicker about you having a real degree." Will agreed.

Though, he didn't want to get into this. "Jay, we aren't getting into this over the phone. We need to get some of our fights in the past, as there are so many things that we need to talk about…especially about the degree stuff. I am not going to do it over the phone, but we're going to talk in the future and that's all I'm going to say about it." Jay was confused, but just agreed with his brother. "Okay?" He said, with a questioning tone at the end of his sentence. "I know, it's confusing. But, when we talk…you'll understand. Now, I know that you need to take it easy and just relax. So, I am not going to take away any more of your time. I'm actually on my way out the door right now. I just had to clean up my office and make sure to assign the medical files for our patients to other doctors and mental health professionals. I'm taking time off too. I put Ethan in as my contact for the programs." The programs being mental health programs for PTSD and more. "Yeah, I think he's a good person to put in charge of that." Will agreed with his brother, glad that he agreed.

After all, he was worried that he was going to be mad that he made the decision without getting his input. "I'm glad that you agree with my decision. I was worried that you would be mad I made a business decision without your approval, you are the CEO after all." Jay shook his head. After all, when it comes to Halstead Health (the division which Will runs as it's President and Deputy CEO), he likes to give Will freedom. "Will, you know that I like to give you freedom when it comes to Halstead Health. You're a medical professional, and I know nothing about medicine; with the exception of mental health." Will agreed. "That's actually where I was headed with the you have a degree conversation. Jay, you've been to war, you've experienced things I've never experienced; that's a degree that I can't earn due to the fact that I will NEVER be the type of guy who can put my life on the line for my country. Not when I see how hard it is for you. Jay, you have PTSD, and I hope to god you know that it pains me to have to hear you suffer through that." Jay agreed.

After all, he knows that. And he also knows that this is the conversation that they two of them have needed to have for a long time. "I am so glad that me and you are having this conversation. It's one that we've needed to have for a while." Will agreed with his brother, as he feels the same way; something he articulated to Jay over the phone. "Jay, you have no idea how nice it is to hear you say that. I want to be on the same page as you, and I want us to get through this as a family. I don't want to bring what Alex went through, but you know how hard it is for her. We have each other, while she lost her brother Michael." Jay agreed with Will, well aware that was the case. "Yeah, that day is still hard for her. The anniversary, I mean." Will agreed, as he figured that's what he meant to say. "Yeah, I had a feeling that was what you meant to say. But, listen. You clearly just want some time with your hot wife." Jay was shocked when he heard Will say that. "Excuse me!" Will laughed. "I was just trying to make you laugh, you know that Natalie is the only one for me."

Jay agreed. "You better believe it. I like having her at the company and would hate to lose her if something happened between you two. Now, I am going to let you go. I need to go spend some time with Alex." Will agreed with Jay. "Listen, can we both agree that we aren't going to rush back to work? Jay, the company can run without us for a bit. Or, if anything, we can work from home. It's what we need to do right now for the sake of our health." Jay agreed, well aware that was the case. "I know that. And I think we can both work from home if required. Thanks for talking this through with me." Will agreed. "Anytime Jay. I've got your back, just like you've got mine." Jay agreed with Will. "And I'll clean up your messes, just like you'll clean up mine." Will laughed, well aware that he does make messes of his life every once and a while. "I love you Jay." Jay agreed. "Love you too Will. Have a good day." Jay said, as he ended the call with his brother and set his phone down in his pocket; while also breathing as he looked out over his backyard as his pups played.


Walking into the kitchen after speaking to his brother, Jay smiled as he looked at the woman he loves. The woman he can't wait to hold in his arms for the rest of his life, especially since she brings out the best in him; even better, she tells him precisely what he needs to hear before he even knows that he needs to hear it. And that's precisely why Jay decided that it was time for him to thank his wife for behind here for him. And that's precisely what he went to do as he walked up behind her and placed his hands on her hips, prior to bending down and kissing her shoulder softly. "I hope you know just how much you mean to me, and how grateful I am for all you do for me." Smiling as she heard her husband say that, Alex placed her hands on his strong arms; only to turn around in his arms and face him. After which, Alex got close to her amazing husband and wrapped her arms around his back. "Jay, I love you…end of conversation. I do this because I love you. You're the man I love, and who I vowed to support for the rest of my life." Jay agreed.

After all, that most certainly is the truth. "Oh, now if that isn't the truth. I loved your wedding vows, by the way." Alex agreed with her husband, well aware that he loved her wedding vows. So, she moved her hands to his arms and smiled as she stepped close to him; only to lean in and kiss the man she loves more than anything in the entire world. At the same time, Jay picked his gorgeous wife up in his arms and set her down on the counter; only to step close to her and smile at her. "I love you." Placing her hand on Jay's face, Alex agreed as she loves her husband too. "I love you too, forever." Jay nodded, smiling as he leaned in and kissed the woman he loves nice and slowly; so slow, that they lost track of time when it came to what they were doing. "God, I hate that we need to have lunch still." Smiling, Alex placed her hands on his face and nodded. "I know, you'd much rather be holding me in bed." Jay agreed with Alex, as that most certainly is the truth. "Especially since it's what I need for my mental health, which I just realized." Alex agreed, smiling.

After which, she pressed her lips to his forehead as a way to show her loving husband that she's glad he realized that they need to be together right now. "I'm glad you realized that. Just like you realized that your wife is sexy." Jay laughed as he placed his hands on Alex's sides and brought her close to his chest. "Oh, you think I just realized that my wife is sexy? Oh no my dear, I know that you're sexy. I've known that for years, and I'm so glad that I'm the man who gets to have you on his arm for the rest of his life." Alex agreed with Jay, as he most certainly is going to get her on his arm for the rest of his life. "Jay, there's nowhere else I'd rather be." Stepping close to his wife, Jay smiled as he wrapped his arms around her; while Alex wrapped her arms around his back and just smiled due to the fact that this is what they need to do. So, she turned her head and smiled as she leaned her forehead against his as a way to ensure that Jay knows that she's here for him. "We need to have some lunch." Jay agreed with his wife. "That we most certainly do."

Alex smirked. "Then, we can just hold each other close and concentrate on what matters: you grieving as we take it easy in bed, which is what you want to do anyways." Jay laughed, as he most certainly does want to do that; he wants to hold the woman he loves in bed as they cuddle up to each other. "You know, I'm really starting to regret going to work now if this is what I could've gotten all day." Alex agreed with her husband, well aware that was the case. "Oh, you could've gotten this and so much more. What you don't know is that I took a nice bath before coming to get you at the office." Jay looked at his wife as she said that. "Sorry, did you just say that you took a BATH before you came to get me at the office?" Placing her hands on Jay's face again, Alex agreed as she most certainly did take a bath. "Yeah, you know me. I prefer baths rather than showers when I'm alone." Jay smirked as Alex said that, before getting close to her and kissing her softly. "Well, I could definitely go for a bath with my gorgeous wife to feel better." Alex smirked as Jay said that.

Placing her hand on his cheek, Alex nodded as she leaned her forehead against his. "I know. And I promise, we can take a bath at some point. But first, you need rest. Jay, I'm going to ask you a question; but first, I want you to look into my eyes so that I know you're being honest when you answer it." Jay nodded as he looked into Alex's eyes as he got ready to answer her question honestly. "How much sleep did you get last night?" Jay sighed, as he hasn't been sleeping the best lately. So, he placed his hands on her neck and just smiled as he stepped close to the woman he loves. After which, he leaned in and kissed the woman he loves. "I haven't slept the best recently, and we both know why." Alex agreed with Jay as he told her that, well aware that was the case. "I had a feeling that was the case Jay. So, I need to ask. Why did you go to the office?" Jay sighed as he looked at Alex. "I felt obligated because of the staff." Placing her hands on Jay's face, Alex just held her husband close to her as she knows how much his staff mean to him. How they're a family.

However, there's something she hates even more: the toll it can easily take on her husband's mental health; the pressures he feels as a CEO is hard, which is why she wants him to take time off when he's feeling this way. And honestly, that's something that the two of them are going to talk about at some point. But, she doesn't want to force him to talk about it. Rather, she wants him to talk to her about it on his own; something she feels like will happen at some point. But right now, she's just going to take it easy and make sure that they relax. "Jay, I hope you know that you can always talk to me. It's why I stepped back from modelling for Halstead Intimates." Jay agreed with his wife. "And I hope you know that I never expected you to do that. You could've kept working, and I would've been more than okay with that." Alex shook her head, as she wasn't having this debate again. "Jay, I don't want to have this debate again. So, how about me and you just eat a bit…then, we can go lay down in bed and talk there?" Jay agreed with his wife.

After all, that's what he wants to do too. He wants to go lay down in bed with his beautiful wife as they spent some quality time with each other. But first, he picked her up and set her down on the ground; only to get close to her and smile as he placed his hand on her hips. After which, Alex stepped close to Jay and placed her hands on his face. "I love you bae." Jay smiled as he heard Alex use his nickname to refer to him. "I love you too A." He said, using her other nickname; after all, Alex is her main nickname due to the fact that her full (legal) name is Alexandra Marie Halstead (formerly Jacobs)…his beautiful wife, and the woman he loves. And god, does he love showing her that he loves her; especially when he has her soft lips on hers, just like he does right now. She's just the sexiest woman in the entire world, and he's so proud to have her as his wife. "You have no idea how happy I am to have you as my wife." Alex agreed, well aware that's the case because of how much he tells her that. "I know baby. Now, how about we eat so that we can relax?"

Jay smiled as Alex said that, before watching as she went to grab some bagels that they can have for lunch. "Bagels okay?" Jay agreed, as that sounds perfect. "You sure that you don't want me to make brunch?" Turning her head, Alex shook her head. "It's ok, I got it. You just take it easy and relax. That's all you need to do for me right now baby." Jay agreed with his wife, well aware that was the case as he walked up behind her; only to wrap his arms around her and kiss her back. Meanwhile, Alex placed her hands on his arms and just smiled as she was happy. "You can lean on me, I promise Jay." Nodding, Jay bent down and kissed her shoulder softly. "I know I can, and I am so glad that's the case. You truly are the woman of my dreams, and I am so glad that I have you in my life now and forever." Alex agreed with Jay, as she feels the same way. She's very happy over the fact that they have each other in their lives. She just hopes Jay doesn't rush back to work. "Jay, can you promise me something?" Jay agreed with his wife. "Always."

Taking a breath, Alex turned around before grabbing Jay's hand. "If I asked you to take a year off, would you do it?" Jay sighed as he looked at his wife and placed his hands on her hips. "Alex, you have no idea how much I want to do that; but you know that the company isn't in the best place. I was already trying to prove myself as the interim CEO. Remember, my dad refused to resign, so he made me interim CEO and still had to sign off on things. Now, I'm the full-time CEO and that means that I need to leave my stamp on it. We have the budget to pass for next year, contracts to renegotiate. And I have a bunch of staff who told me straight out that they were going to leave when my dad left the company." Alex was surprised when she heard her husband say that, before stepping close to him. "Hey, why didn't you tell me that? Jay, that's huge. Is that why you're already working again?" Jay sighed as he looked at his wife. "I didn't think that you'd want to have to deal with all the background stuff. You're a model, not a…" Alex stopped her husband.

After all, she's much more than just a model. "Hey, look at me." Jay agreed with his wife, listening to her. "I'm your wife, and just as much an owner of the company as you and Will. Not that I would ever leave you, but I get 25% of the company if we divorce per the terms of our prenup. So, to say that I'm JUST a model, that's a huge understatement. Jay, I'm your partner in this. We're partners in this, I promise." Jay agreed with his wife as he stepped close to her, only to wrap his arms around her and press his lips to her forehead; while Alex wrapped her arms around his back and just held her loving husband close to her, which is what he clearly needed right now as he started to cry a bit. And let's just say that really surprised Alex, as her husband never cries. "Hey, are you crying?" Jay agreed with Alex. "Yeah, it's just all coming out now that I feel like I have permission to truly grieve and cry." Alex shook her head, as that was the last thing she wanted to hear her husband tell her. "Hey, is that true Jay?" Jay nodded, as it is true, which made Alex sad.


Ever since Jay admitted that he feels like he finally has the permission to truly grieve and cry, the couple hasn't spoken due to the fact that they were both shocked. Jay was shocked that he finally got that off his chest, while Alex was shocked that he even felt that way. I mean, how can he truly think that way? That he can only grieve in private? That he can't grieve on his own timeline. Grief isn't something that someone gets to dictate, which is the last thing she wants to hear her husband tell her. So, she decided to join him in the kitchen as he did the dishes so that they can talk about what he said. But first, she had to get his attention, which she did by wrapping her arms around his back and kissing it softly. "Hey, can we talk for a minute?" Turning to look at Alex, Jay agreed. "Is it about what I think?" Alex agreed with her husband. "Jay, I hate what I heard. You feeling like you need permission to grieve? Bae, you have to know that's not the truth." Placing his hand on the side of her face, Jay sighed as he get close to her.

After which, he pressed his lips to her forehead; while Alex wrapped her arms around his back as they both held each other close here in the kitchen. "Jay, we need to talk about this, because you can't feel the way. Jay, you're human and have every permission in the world to grieve the loss of your father. Is that why you worked so much? Because you felt that, as the company's CEO, you didn't have permission to grieve the loss of your father?" Jay sighed, as that's how he felt. "I felt like I needed to keep it together and show strength." Alex sighed. "Listen. I want to talk about this, but not here. How about we table this until we're upstairs and holding each other in bed?" Jay agreed, as he liked that idea. "Want me to go to bed?" Alex smiled, as that's precisely what she wants Jay to do. She wants him to go lay down in bed and just take it easy. "Yes, I do. So, how about you go do just that for me?" Jay agreed with Alex as he got close to her, prior to leaning in and kissing her softly. "See you soon." Alex agreed, more than ready to hold her husband close.

After which, Jay walked away to go get in bed where he was going to wait for Alex to come join him; meanwhile, she did the dishes to make sure that the kitchen was clean ahead of them spending some quality time in bed with each other. Time where they can hold each other, take it easy, relax, and just talk things through…like they clearly need to do.