Page 65 of The Other Room

“Ugh. Biggest dumbasses ever.”

“Ever.”

“But,” I said, pulling her around to face me, “we’re here now. And I’m not going anywhere. And I know you, which also means I know deep down you’re wanting to bolt out of here and run away.”

“That’s not true.” She scowled. “I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Lifting her chin with the tips of my fingers, I drew her in for a soft kiss. “I’m just saying, when you got freaked out about relationships, it has always been me you ran to who’d talk you down from the ledge. But now I’m the relationship, and I want you to know you can still run to me and tell me how you’re feeling. I’m still me. And you can be honest when you start to freak out, because you will start to freak out. And I sure as hell don’t want you bolting out of this... bolting from us.”

“You want to be the guy I run to so I can talk about the guy I want to run away from, which will also be you?” She arched a brow.

“Yep. I am still your best friend, Matt. Always will be. So, don’t you dare go through your freak-out phase without me.”

She smiled and pressed another kiss to my lips. “I have a feeling we’re not going to go through that phase this time. I ran because I was scared of being hurt. I ran because I didn’t trust them. I ran because... well... because they weren’t you.”

My heart swelled inside my chest, pushing against the walls trying to constrain it. “I love you, Jo.”

“I love you, too.”

She crawled up my body and pressed against me, our skin heating as our bodies tangled together. Grabbing her face, I pulled her in for a deep kiss. Tongues twisting, breaths quickening, our hands restarted the exploration they’d indulged in last night. I stroked the soft skin on her back, sliding my hand down to cup her ass and pull her on top of me.

A low growl vibrated through the room, and we paused, turning our heads to see Petunia glaring at us.

“Um,” I whispered into her ear, “I think we need to kick out the cat.”

“Hey, she’s in the bed with you! That’s a big step!” Jo turned back and smiled. “She’s starting to like you!”

“She’s also got really sharp claws, and she’s extremely close to my nuts. I’m having visions of how this could go and none of them end well.”

Jo laughed and kissed my cheek. “Come on, Petunia. Let’s get you some food and... oh shit! Is that the time?” She snatched up her phone.

“I haven’t looked yet.”

“Shit. I’m covering the day shift, and I have to be at JJ’s in thirty minutes!”

She started off the bed, but I caught her by the wrist and yanked her back into my arms. “It’s a snow day, remember?”

After putting up a half-hearted fight, she settled back into my arms. “Unfortunately, I don’t think JJ’s will agree considering it’s August.”

“Just call in sick.”

“Don’t you have to work today, too?”

I sighed. “Nope. Day off. You can have a day off, too, if you call in sick.” Waggling my eyebrows, I brushed a finger against her nipple.

“Not fair!” She swatted it away. “Don’t tease me.”

“It’s not teasing if I intend to follow through. And I definitely intend to follow through.” I dragged a finger down her abdomen and heard her breath hitch as I neared the place I’d given lots of attention last night.

Her ragged breathing sped up as I inched my way closer, but just before I reached the spot I wanted to touch, taste, and plunge myself into, she stiffened and pushed my hand away.

“You’re terrible. Mean and terrible. Now I’m going to be all fired up at work today.”

“I can put that fire out.” I grinned.

“I’ll be off work around five tonight, so we can pick up where we left off then. Deal?”

Grumbling, I tightened my grip. “No deal.”