She cups my face, staring into my eyes and pressing a soft kiss to my lips, and relief floods through me. “You don’t have to give up your career for us. We can make this work. We just need to set some stronger boundaries for our personal lives. And to do whatever we can to avoid getting sucked into this type of social media nonsense.”
I nod, brushing my hand against her cheek. “We can do that together. As long as you’re by my side, we can handle whatever life throws at us.”
“Yeah, but I’d really like it if life could stop making me trend on social. I’m over all of the attention,” she adds, leaning her chest against my shoulder and sighing. “I love you.”
“I love you, Kate. More than you’ll ever know.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
kate
Jakeand I spend the next several hours in my bed, talking about everything that happened this weekend, including how much it triggered me to have my calls and texts ignored. I was vulnerable, sharing my fears about how his public lifestyle is impacting my mental health and career. Jake confessed how terrified he’s been that I might walk away because of the lack of privacy his life has brought me, once again promising to leave it all behind rather than lose me. Although none of these conversations were easy, they needed to happen and reduced the anxiety within both of us.
As I’m lying with my head on his chest, he’s stroking his fingers across my scalp and through my hair, sending me into a state of complete tranquility—one I didn’t think was possible, given the heartbreak I felt earlier.
“I could stay like this forever,” I murmur, breathing in his signature smell, woodsy with a hint of orange blossom and warm, velvety bourbon.
“That’s the plan. You and me forever.” He kisses the top of my head, then lets out a deep exhale. “There’s one more thingwe should probably talk about regarding your dad. The PI found him. He’s alive.”
I flinch. “Can it wait until later?” I ask, unsure whether I’m emotionally ready to hear this information.
“Whatever you want,” Jake replies, dragging his fingertips down my bare arm, eliciting goosebumps on my arms and neck. “Have I told you how much I missed having you in my arms the past few weeks?”
“Yes.” I nuzzle my head against his chest. “But I wouldn’t mind you showing me.” I glance up at him, tugging on the corner of my bottom lip with my teeth. My body is begging for his touch, desperate to reconnect with him physically to complete the circle of healing. To move past all the heartache and start fresh.
“Is that so?” His eyes darken, staring at me with a level of hunger that wasn’t there a couple of minutes ago.
I nod silently with a small smirk. That’s all it takes for him to roll me onto my back and cage his body over mine, sending my nerves into overdrive with anticipation. His eyes linger on my face, conveying so much love and passion that it feels like a jolt into my soul, leaving me almost breathless.
“Promise you’ll be mine forever, Kate,” he begs softly, brushing away a strand of loose hair from my face.
It’s a simple question with a much deeper meaning. Not the official one when he gets down on one knee, but a prelude to it. He’s testing the waters to see whether I’m closer to being ready to officially commit my life to him. Wear his ring, eventually take his name. And for the first time, it doesn’t seem as scary. The worries and fears I’ve previously had, thanks to my past engagement, are gone. No longer caring what others think about the timing. All that matters is us. How we feel. What we want. Everything else is merely noise, designed to cause havoc.
“Yes,” I whisper.
His face lights up with a look of wonder, like he can’t believe he heard the word that came out of my mouth, especially after everything that’s happened over the past couple of days.
“I’ll be yours forever, Jake,” I say, making it abundantly clear we’re on the same page about where our future is headed. That I’m one step closer to being ready to marry him.
His control snaps, lips crashing against mine as his greedy hands run up and down my body in such a fervor, it feels like he’s setting every inch of me on fire. My mouth opens, his tongue dancing inside, slowly sucking and stroking, igniting heat in my core. Making me even more desperate for him than I already was.
This should be one of those times when we take it slow. Cherish every single kiss and touch, but my body has other ideas. I groan when his fingers brush the outlines of my nipples through my shirt, arching into his touch, practically begging for more.
“Take my clothes off. I need you. Now,” I pant, eager to feel his bare skin against mine.
“Whatever my girl wants, she gets,” he replies with a wicked grin.
Seconds later, he’s effortlessly stripped me down, naked on the bed while he makes quick work of his own clothes. Without warning, he pulls me to the edge of the mattress, my feet dangling over the side, nudging my knees wider. He reaches between my legs, dragging his fingers slowly up my inner thigh until they reach my pussy. I moan as he strokes me once, twice, three times.
“Fuck, you’re soaked for me. I love knowing I make you this wet. Need to fucking taste you,” he murmurs, sliding to his knees.
“Can’t wait, babe. Need you inside me. Please,” I beg, writhing on the bed in such a heightened state of arousal thata single touch might make me orgasm. He’s always had a way of winding up my body until I’m ready to fucking explode, but this feels different. Maybe it’s a side effect of the emotional connection we’ve strengthened today, the need to recreate a good memory to reduce the sting of earlier events. Whatever it is, I’m completely at his mercy.
He stands, spreading my legs apart even wider and pulling me until my ass is partly hanging off the mattress. Fisting his cock, he strokes himself a few times before dragging the tip through my drenched pussy, intentionally edging me. God, this man knows how to push every single one of my buttons. And just when I think I can’t take the teasing anymore, he seats himself deep inside me with a single thrust, stretching me to the brink.
“Fuck. You’re so goddamn tight,” he groans, his hands digging into my hips as he remains perfectly still for a few seconds, giving me time to adjust to his girth before he starts fucking plunging into me.
In and out. In and out.
