Page 16 of Insatiable

The Lawyer: Come home, Jay.

The King: Home?

The Lawyer: Yes, home.

The King: On the way.

I look at the messages, already thinking the worst. Then, it dawns on me this could be good news about James. I could finally relax, maybe return home. But, even with that thought, I don’t know if I really want it anymore. Especially when Sean says to come home. I don’t know if Santa Barbara is my forever home, but I am starting to believe that wherever they are is where I want to be. So, going home to possibly good news is giving me hope about my future. Jay slides me off his lap with a brilliant smile. My swollen lips are tingling from our kiss. He stands, adjusting himself in those hot as hell grey sweatpants that I haven’t appreciated until now. Damn.

“Let’s get back before I don’t take you back at all. Sometimes I don’t like sharing, and this is one of those times.” He puts out his hand for me to take, placing my hand in his, he pulls me to my feet. My body is flush with his, my breasts are crushed against his chest.

“You only have to ask.” He leans down and brushes his lips against mine, and I sigh. Fuck, that was hot. When did he get this hot? ‘That’s a silly question, Tate,’ I think to myself. ‘How many women? Nope. I definitely don’t want to fall down that rabbit hole.

“I think we should go home.” I barely get the words out, stepping out of his arms, holding my hand out for him to take. When he doesn’t take it, I look up to see his sexy version of a Chesire cat-like smile.

“What is that smile for?” I ask playfully as he finally takes my hand. It feels good to hold his hand in mine. I berate myself for never having done it before. We are all so different now, and I am looking forward to discovering who they have become.

“Say let’s go home again. I want to hear you say one more time,” he says dreamily as we head back to the car. I can’t help but laugh at his ridiculousness.

“Let’s go home.” He stops us in the middle of the sidewalk, lifting me in his arms. I squeal in surprise as he spins us around. I look apologetically at people trying to walk past.

“Jay, don’t make a scene. You’re spinning me around like I just said yes to marriage.” He stops and puts me back on my feet and we quickly make our way to his SUV. He doesn’t say anything the short distance it takes us to reach the car. He opens the door for me, and I climb into the front seat wondering what’s going on his head when he leans over me and buckles my seatbelt.

“Not yet. I hope maybe one day you will.” He kisses me quickly on the lips and closes the door, leaving me to stew in shock at what he just said. My mouth takes a minute to close as the reality of his words hits home.

“Tate’s sessions are going well, Dr. Morgan. You know I can’t talk to you about what we discuss.” Dr. Schaffer tsks down the line and I roll my eyes at her slight admonishment.

“I am aware of the doctor/patient confidentiality, Beverly. I called because we’ve had some news in regard to her ex-fiancé, and I am worried how the news will affect her mental health. She’s been doing so well.” I sigh because she is healing mentally and physically. The latest MRI scan on her head came back clear. There is no lasting damage. Her physio sessions are progressing nicely. According to Dr. Schaffer she doesn’t think she will need to see Tate for much longer. Tate is a miracle, not a lot of people can walk away from what she went through without extensive damage. If the bullet aiming for her head was one inch to the left—

“Dr. Morgan, I know you are concerned. I assure you that Tate is not fragile by any means. Telling her the truth is the best way forward for her—well, it’s the best policy to have regardless of who you are dealing with. She needs to feel involved in her life. I know you all want to protect her, but she is strong, she will be fine. If she’s not, then you let me handle that as her psychiatrist. You are emotionally involved, Cace.” I can hear her tapping her pen in the background and I almost laugh. Tate was right, it does sound like a metronome.

“I don’t want this to setback her healing.” I voice my number one concern and pace in my bedroom after finally taking a shower. I was too stressed out from the detective's phone call to do anything else but harass Sean about what our next steps should be. If it was up to me, I would grab Tate and we would be somewhere on the French Riveria right now, away from all of this. Dr. Schaffer is right, we need to follow Tate’s lead. After all, this is her life.

“Cace, I have a patient in a minute. My best advice is to let her process it. Don’t tell her how she should feel. If she doesn’t react in the way you think she should, don’t question it.” I can almost see her hands as she listed off those points with her fingers. I feel like I’ve been in a session.

“Thank you, Beverly,” she mumbles a quick goodbye and hangs up the phone. I hurry to get dressed and head downstairs just as the front door opens.

“Honey, we’re home,” Jay yells, followed by a laugh from Tate. Her laughter spurs me on, I pick up my pace, thankful I bought an open planned house and there are no walls to maneuver around. Tate spots me, offering me her gorgeous smile, she runs to me. I don’t make through the living room before we collide. She wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes me tight. Tate buries her face in my chest, taking a deep breath. Thank goodness I took a shower. I stand still for a moment, mouth open as I stare over her head at Jay who leans against the wall of the entry hall. ‘Smug asshole,’ I think to myself. He gestures that I should hug her back. I shoot him a glare before I wrap her in my arms. Leaning over her, I take a deep breath. The smell of coffee and sunshine is all I needed to settle my nerves. She pulls away and looks up at me.

“Where is Sean?” She asks as I take her tote bag and sling it over my shoulder. Jay and Tate both chuckle. I don’t know how to react because I want to carry her load for her. Even if that load is her purse. I take her hand and pull her to a sliding glass door which led outside.

“He is grilling. He wanted to cook dinner for you. I thought we could eat around the fire pit outside under the stars.” Tate whoops in excitement and drops my hand.

“Please tell me there is shrimp and steak on that grill,” she asks as she backs away from me.

“Do you even have to ask?” I wink and she does a little dance as she reaches the stairs.

“Okay, shower, warmer clothes, and then you can tell me about this emergency Sean talked about.” She arches her eyebrow in question, and I can feel the scrutiny in her gaze as she watches my reaction.

“Get those x-ray eyes off me woman and go take a shower,” I say playfully, trying not to let her see me sweat. Tate could always tell when we were hiding something, and I definitely want to spill the truth to her before we at least had dinner.

“Cold shower, Tatter-tot?” Jay saunters over to her with all the swagger he can muster, offering her a panty melting smile that has me lifting my own eyebrows. What the hell happened today? Tate’s cheeks blush red as she bites her lower lip, it makes my cock twitch from how fucking cute she is right now.

“Maybe,” she says, turning on her heels and taking the steps quickly towards her room. Both Jay and I have our eyes trained on her ass, watching her progression until the door closes behind her. Jay turns, his eyes sparkle with mischief as he walks past me to the sliding doors.

“What did you do to her?” My voice is laced with awe from whatever magic he has worked to put her in such a good mood. I can still feel her arms around me, and I want more of it.

“The usual; breakfast, music, then we relaxed on a bench while she read her book,” he says matter-of-factly, sliding the glass door open and walking down the path down by the pool.