Jade apologizes the whole way back to my apartment, even though none of this is her fault. When she steps into the bathroom with her things, I go into my room, toe off my boots, and change out of my costume.
By the time Jade comes in, I’m three chocolate bars deep and seriously considering a fourth. That is until I see her standing at the foot of the bed in my clothes. When I gave her that shirt to wear, I hadn’t really thought ahead. It’s white and thin as hell, and I can one hundred percent see her nipples through the soft fabric.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” she says, gesturing to her chest.
I shake my head. “No, but I’m really fucking glad I did.” What a happy accident.
She rolls her eyes and settles herself on the bed beside me. I nudge the bowl of chocolate closer to her to keep myself from eating any more. “I just brushed my teeth,” she says, “so I really shouldn’t.” She bites into her bottom lip. “Thanks for that, by the way. It was really thoughtful.”
“I’m happy you can benefit from my obsession with shoplifting toothbrushes.” I nod at the chocolate. “Go on, it’s Halloween.”
“Oh, fine.” She picks up a Butterfinger and tears open the package. A moan escapes her throat when she takes the first bite. Note to self: Buy more Butterfingers.
“Are you feeling okay?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’m good. My cramps aren’t too bad tonight.”
That’s something, at least. Alex used to have to sleep with a heating pad when she was on her period. “You know what I hear works great for cramps?”
Jade covers her mouth as she chews. “No, what?”
“Orgasms.”
The bite she took must go down the wrong tube because she begins coughing and sputtering. I grab the glass she left on the nightstand and thrust it toward her.
“You’re an idiot,” she croaks after a drink. “I thought you were serious.”
“I am serious. Look it up.” And if she still doesn’t believe me, I’d be more than willing to do a little experiment if she’s up for it.
“Oh my god.” She gives my shoulder a hard shove, and I fall back onto the pillow.
“Just saying…the offer’s there.”
She’s still laughing as she sets the wrapper and bowl aside, curling up next to me with her hands clasped beneath her cheek. “You aren’t anything like I thought you’d be.”
Not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. “How’d you think I’d be?”
“Cooler.”
“I’m sorry. Did you not see my SWAT uniform?” I was the coolest guy in that bar by a long shot.
Her gaze slips to my mouth as she scoots closer. “Thatwaspretty cool,” she murmurs, tracing the black rose tattoo on the inside of my bicep. “But I think I prefer you out of it.”
I know exactly what she means. As hot as Jade looked in that doll costume, I much prefer her in my bed, wearing my T-shirt. The hem lifts ever so slightly, revealing a stretch of tanned stomach that’s begging for my touch.
“AndI just got arrested,” I add. “I’m a total badass.”
“Youalmostgot arrested…by a pirate.”
She has a point.
I wrap my hands around Jade’s hips and pull her even closer so I can breathe her in. She tucks her head beneath my chin and snuggles into my chest. It’s been a long time since I’ve fallen asleep with a woman in my arms…and I really fucking love it.
* * *
Jade doesn’t stopall week. On Monday, she gets so busy that she forgets to eat. Who does that? Not me. Food is priority number one. Or at least it used to be before I met Jade.
Ella and I drop by Quinn Brothers on Tuesday with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that my niece made all by herself. The half-packed boxes everywhere tell me that the store’s online orders have gotten out of hand, not that I say that to Jade. She gets excited each time a new one comes through, but I’m more focused on the way the circles beneath her dulled eyes are getting gradually darker.
