“You really need to stop apologizing for feeling things,” he countered. Unfortunately, he had a point. Dani let out a shaky laugh before hiding her face briefly against his chest. Jonnas wrapped both arms around her instantly, holding her closewithout hesitation, and suddenly she realized something else terrifying. She could stay here all day, curled up in his arms where she felt safe, wanted, and taken care of.
The realization scared her enough that she blurted the first thing that came to mind. “You know this is insane, right?”
Jonnas laughed softly against the top of her head. “Probably.”
“We barely know each other,” she continued.
“I know you like extra cheese in your mac and cheese.”
“That’s not deep emotional intimacy.”
“I know you pretend you’re fine when you’re overwhelmed.” His hand slid slowly through her hair. “I know you apologize when you cry because someone taught you feelings were inconvenient.” His voice softened further. “And I know you relax the second someone makes you feel safe.” Dani’s chest tightened painfully because somehow, he really did see her. More clearly than anyone ever had.
Jonnas tilted her chin upward gently. “And I know,” he murmured, “that you look at me like you’re already halfway gone for me too.” Her breath caught hard because the worst part was that he was right.
Dani should’ve been panicking. Honestly, by every normal standard, she should’ve already been halfway out the door emotionally. Because men like Jonnas Black weren’t supposed to look at women like her the way he looked at her. Not seriously, and not like she was something precious instead of temporary. And yet there he was with warm sheets tangled around them, and the morning light slowly creeping through the giant windows behind him. He had one strong arm wrappedaround her waist while he looked at her like she’d already become important to him. And she wasn’t sure that her heart would survive it all.
“You’re doing it again,” he murmured sleepily.
Dani blinked. “What?”
“Looking at me like you’re scared to believe me.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks instantly. “I’m trying not to.”
Jonnas brushed his fingers lightly through her hair. “You don’t have to try so hard around me.” The gentleness in his voice made something ache deep inside her. No one had ever wanted softness from her before. Competence, sure. Independence, absolutely. But softness, need, or trust—never. Until Jonnas came into her life.
Dani looked down at his chest quietly. “You make it really hard to stay guarded.”
“Good,” he breathed. She laughed softly despite herself. Jonnas immediately looked pleased by the sound. That was becoming her favorite thing—how openly he reacted to her. Like he wasn’t embarrassed to enjoy her.
“You know what’s weird?” she whispered.
“What?” he asked.
“You already know me better than people I dated for years,” she admitted.
His hand slowed against her back. “That’s because you let me in,” he said. The simple honesty of that answer settled heavily in her chest because he was right; she had let him get to know her—way faster than she normally would’ve. Maybe because some deep exhausted part of her recognized safety the second she found in him.
Jonnas tilted her chin upward gently until she looked at him again. “You still overwhelmed?”
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Scared?” he asked.
“A little.”
“Of me?” he asked. That question seemed to matter to him. She could hear it in his voice immediately.
Dani answered honestly. “No.” The relief that flickered across his face nearly broke her heart.
Jonnas pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before pulling her against him again. “Good.” Silence settled around them after that—the kind Dani never used to understand before him. Usually, silence with another person felt awkward, like she was waiting for their disappointment. But with Jonnas, it felt peaceful, and almost as easy as breathing.
His fingers drifted slowly up and down her spine while she melted deeper into the mattress beside him. “You know what I realized last night?” she murmured sleepily.
“What’s that, baby girl?” The nickname still made warmth spread all through her body.
“I slept through the night.” Jonnas went still for half a second before his hand tightened gently against her back.
