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In reality, he needed protection from her because he’d be the one to have to start over when the rubbish hit the fan, as it inevitably would.
But he wasn’t leaving. Not when the tenderness in Chelsea’s eyes promised that drowning himself in her heaven would be worth whatever hell he later faced.
Knowing she waited for his answer but unwilling to verbalize his weakness, he leaned in, took her mouth, and lost himself in the sweetness of her body.
CHAPTER TEN
ALTHOUGH he hadn’t said a word since calling out her name in a passionate cry, Chelsea knew Jared was awake.
He’d rolled onto his side, pulled her to him, and held her close. She waited for him to notice the scars on her back, to jerk away in disgust or whatever it was Kevin had felt when he’d seen the evidence of her surgeries.
But if Jared noticed, he didn’t comment, just breathed softly into her hair.
Tears stung her eyes although she wasn’t sure if they were from happiness, sadness, or relief.
She loved Jared. He’d been tender and demanding and all-consuming. By no means was she an expert on sexual relations, but she didn’t need to be. What they’d shared had been special.
“I should go.”
So special he wanted to leave even before his breathing had returned to normal.
Chelsea stiffened, but she didn’t beg him to stay.
If he still wanted to go after what they’d just shared, there wasn’t anything she could say or do that would keep him with her.
“But I’d like to stay,” he continued. “If you’ll let me.”
Elation filled her. He wanted to stay.
“I told you I wanted you to stay,” she reminded him. “That hasn’t changed.”
He kissed the back of her head in a gentle peck, and Chelsea smiled. Everything would be OK.
Her stomach growled, reminding her of what she’d been doing when her brother had called, when Jared had arrived at the beach house.
“I have pizza and beer, if you’re hungry.”
“I’m starved,” he admitted, brushing his lips against her hair as if he might be referring to her when he admitted to his hunger. “I missed lunch.”
Taking care not to expose her back, she rolled, stared into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re here, Jared. That you came to me.”
His eyes searched hers for the longest time before he nodded. “Me, too.”
After reheating several slices of pizza in the microwave, Chelsea and Jared sat on her sofa, munching. Surprisingly, Jared talked almost non-stop. Mostly about Connie Black, her daughter and grandsons, her deceased husband, and what a wonderful life they’d had.
“I wish I’d had the opportunity to know her better,” Chelsea said, before taking a sip of her beer.
“You’d have liked her.” He picked at the label on his glass beer bottle. “In some ways you remind me of her.”
“I do?”
“You’re both spunky as hell.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“I meant it as one. You both have a passion for life and aren’t afraid to take risks.” He placed the bottle against his lips and took a drink. “A part of me knew she’d agree to chemotherapy again if I pushed. Maybe that’s why I pushed so hard for her to go. After Paul died, she went on, but wasn’t the same.”
“He must have been an amazing man for her to love him so much.”
