He says nothing, slipping past me as hewiggles the spirit level at me as if I were a baby distracted by a set of car keys.
My first instinct is to fight him, as we’ve always done. But we’re in new territory now. I don’t want to argue with him. I just want to know what’s wrong. We haven’t been in this vulnerable space before, and if he feels anything like I do, sharing his feelings isn’t the first thing that springs to mind. Not when what we’re doing is so new.
We work quietly as he installs the curtain rod, taking great care to mark the exact spot the screws need to go before committing with the drill. By the time we’ve finished, he’s barely said a word, save for a few grunts as he holds his arms above his head for long periods, a bead of sweat forming on his temple. He moves the ladder into the entryway, leaving the room perfect.
I stand at the door and lean my back against his chest. I can’t believe we’ve finished a room, and now, after work, I’ll have somewhere to come and relax that isn’t just curling up in bed.
Jonesy kisses the top of my head, his hand slipping into mine as he pulls me over to the couch. He slumps down, pulling me over his lap so I’m straddling him.
“Thank you, I’ll be able to hang out here now and not head straight to my bedroom after work,” I say, taking in the space. The fireplace is still in its original form, adding some character to the house. Maybe I’ll get to watch Jonesy chopsome wood for me, and we can live out a lumberjack fantasy.
“Well, if I had known that would happen, I would have left this room until last.”
I swat his chest, and he grabs me, pulling my wrist to his nose and taking a deep inhale on the spot where I spritzed my perfume this morning.
“You can talk to me, you know? I get that this started as physical and you wanting to help me...” I say awkwardly, tilting my chin down so he can’t see my eyes. “What I’m trying to say is...I want to be the person you come to. Does that make sense?”
I lift my head and find his brows pinched together, his eyes flitting between mine until he pushes my hair back from my face and kisses me. It’s slow, methodical; his tongue brushes against mine, his teeth nip at my bottom lip. He’s unhurried, like he could spend all night doing just this.
I wanted him to know he could come to me with his problems, and now he knows. The ball is in his court, and I don’t want to push the matter tonight, not when we should be celebrating another room completed.
I pull back for a moment and ask, “Wanna christen this couch?”
“You’ve had the couch for years.” He smiles, the frown disappearing between his brows.
“Humor me,” I murmur against his lips.
I ride him deep and unhurried on my not-new couch. My orgasm creeps up on me slowly,with hot, wet kisses biting up my neck, fingernails scraping into skin. When I come down from my high, my hips aching, sweat clinging to my skin, I realize it’s the first time we haven’t used fear to get me off. I pull him by his hand, letting his cum slip down my leg, and drag him into bed. His arm curls around my waist, my back tucked against his chest, just the way I like it. I think of Jonesy as I close my eyes, of how many times he made me smile tonight, and I don’t have any dreams at all.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jonesy
Jonesy:I need to talk. Either of you free?
Caleb:Mario’s in twenty?
Alfie:I can be there.
Mario’s, an Italian-style brunch place, is bustling as usual for a Saturday afternoon, but I manage to snag a booth in the back where I take up residence waiting for Alfie and Caleb. The waitress brings over a menu and a soda.
My phone chimes, and I see a text come through from Katie.
Princess she-devil:Are you coming over tonight?
Jonesy:I was planning on it. Are you busy?
Princess she-devil:I’ve been going over The Poser case in preparation for his appeal. I need a distraction.
I sense she needs more than that. If she’s reliving some of the trauma that caused her to havethese sleep problems in the first place, she’ll need a little bit of what only I can offer to sort her out.
Jonesy:I’ll be round for seven?
Princess she-devil:Earlier, if you can.
I grin into my phone like a goddamn teenager.
Jonesy:I’ll do what I can, princess. Don’t get started without me.
