Page 93 of Never Pucking Ending

People would go feral knowing he hand selected his favorite romances to recommend purchasing. And now I’m picturing him in headphones and glasses doing immersive reading on his time off.

“Are you real?” I ask.

He’s still waiting for me to wrap my pinky around his, blinking down at me.

I poke his broad chest to make sure this isn’t some dream I’ll wake up from. We really did announce to our parents that we’re in love and will be spending the rest of our lives together. Jesse said he’s retiring. He said he’ll work at the store. That all really happened. Eventually, I’m satisfied enough with the reality of it all and wrap my pinky finger around his.

He raises our linked hands and kisses my knuckles, smiling against the skin. “Feel real?”

I nod slowly. “Yes. And no. It’ll sink in.”

He chuckles and lowers our hands, keeping our pinkies locked. “Would it feel more real if I get us a snack while you put something on TV for us to watch? You can torture me with that one show about people getting married within three months.”

The laugh bubbles out of me. “Don’t pretend like you don’t know what it’s called. You can act like you hate it, but we both know you’re invested.”

He sighs defeatedly. “It’s a trainwreck I can’t look away from.”

“You can choose something to watch if you want,” I offer, willing to sit through a horror or action movie since they’re his go-to choices. “I feel like I owe you since you’re willing to trade in your skates for an apron.”

Jesse blinks at me. “I have to wear an apron?”

I giggle. “No, but you’d look adorable.”

Let’s be real. He’d pull off an apron. He’d be hot enough to attract women to come in just to see him in it. Years ago, that may have made me jealous, but I know I have nothing to worry about.

Because Jesse Clarkson is mine.

I get on my tip toes and kiss him. Only then does he drop our hands so he can cup my cheek and hip and return the kiss. It’s not deep or fast or heated like some of ours tend to turn. It’s sweet and lingering and…natural. Like this is only one of the millions we’ll be having in the years to come.

I sigh into his mouth.

“What?” he asks against my lips.

I pick a piece of lint from his shirt with a smile. “I’m just thinking about what it would be like seeing you as a dad.”

There is no hiding what’s poking me.

I nip his bottom lip. “Is that your phone or…?”

I swear a growl escapes him as his lips return to mine once, briefly, before his eyes are looking down at my face with lust in them. “We both know it isn’t.”

I can’t help but wonder something aloud. “Is that…something you’re into? Do you have a breeding kink?”

Once again, his not phone presses against me. This time it feels harder. Like it’s desperately trying to get out of its cage. “I didn’t think so. Not until you.”

Not until you.

Suddenly, I’m turned on. Like super turned on. Normally, I’m only horny before my period starts and don’t like being touched when I’m on it. But I may break that this time. In fact, I really want to break that.

“The idea of me getting you pregnant—” His words cut off, voice rough with something that darkens his eyes as he drags his tongue along the seam of his lips. “Yeah. That definitely does something to me.”

I admit the truth without hesitation. “Me too.”

His nostrils flare, like he’s debating on throwing me over his shoulder caveman style and having his way with me. Jesse takes a step back and inhales slowly, like he has to calm himself down.

“I’m on my period,” I remind him, nibbling my lip.

He nods. “I know. I wasn’t going to suggest—”