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“Jagger,” I whisper, stroking his lip.
“It’s fine, it’ll heal.”
I stare at the fading marks on his face and know eventually they’ll begin taking over his beautiful face. He narrows his eyes and grips my chin.
“Don’t you like me with all these scars?”
His voice is bitter. I snap my head back and take his face in my hands, positioning myself on the ground in front of him.
“I’ll love you, no matter what.”
He grunts but that very movement looks like it hurts.
“I guess kissing is out?” I frown.
He meets my gaze and leans in so he’s nearly touching my lips with his.
“Might be, but I can do plenty of things to make that up to you.”
I pout now.
“You picked the worst timing.”
He closes his eyes and mutters a curse. “You can’t be serious?”
Yep, Aunt Flow is here. She loves to make an appearance when she knows I don’t need her. It’s like an evil game.
“That has to happen the one time I can see you?”
“Isn’t seeing me enough?” I mumble.
“Hey,” he says, turning my face to his, “you know it is. I wasn’t the only one getting horny.”
I chuckle. “No, you weren’t.”
“Besides, I have things planned.”
“Oh, you do, do you?”
He smirks. “I’ve got one night, I’m goin’ to make it count but first, where’s my boy?”
I smile and tell him to meet me around the back of the house. Five minutes later, I’m home and letting him through the back door. Jenny is feeding Cody at the table. When she sees Jagger, she beams.
“You found her?”
“You knew?” I cry, crossing my arms.
“I knew. That’s why I’m taking Cody for the night.”
I give her a look and watch Jagger walk over and scoop him up, covering himself in mashed pumpkin. Jenny laughs, and a huge smile stretches across my face.
“He’ll be fine with me,” she says. “I’ve had him before. I won’t take him anywhere unsafe. Ace found a place for us to stay out of Mick’s sights. He’ll be okay.”
“I know, but I hate leaving him.”
“Willow, you’ve had him twenty-four seven since he was born. You’ve been up the last week with him screaming. You deserve this. He’ll be okay.”
I hesitantly nod, then turn to Jagger who is pressing his nose into Cody’s little neck, just breathing. I smile and go over, tucking my arm around his waist.
“I’m sure he’s grown in a week.”
“He has.”
Jagger’s face hardens just a touch. “I’m missin’ all this.”
“It won’t be forever, it’s going to be fine.”
I hope I’m right.
“I’ll go get an overnight bag ready, let you two spend some time with him,” Jenny says, touching my arm.
Jagger falls onto the sofa, and I flop down beside him. Cody coos and grips his necklace. Jagger smiles as much as his sore lip will allow and strokes Cody’s cheek.
“He’s a good boy, isn’t he?”
“You wouldn’t say that if you had him for the last week.”
Jagger grins. “Listen here, boy, you sleep for your mommy when Da—”
“You can say it,” I urge.
Jagger looks over to me, his eyes are a little lost.
“When Daddy is away,” I finish for him.
“Daddy,” he whispers. “It’s such a sweet, nice word. I’m not sweet and nice, Willow. I’m a fuckin’ monster. If he knew what I do, what I’ve done, he wouldn’t want to look up to me.”
“Wrong,” I say. “You’re strong, brave, and beautiful. You’re everything he needs and more.”
“Maybe.”
“Hey,” I say, forcing him to look at me. “Don’t you start doubting yourself now, Jagger.”
He nods and kisses Cody’s cheeks. “Be a good little man for Mommy, she’s doin’ it tough.”
Cody looks at Jagger, stares him right in the eye. Then he giggles and shoves a fist into his mouth. Jagger snorts.
“Real charmer.”
I laugh. “He’s beautiful.”
Jagger nods. “Yeah, he’s fuckin’ perfect.”
“Language, Black! You have a child here now.”
He gives me a grin that makes me weak at the knees. Jenny reappears with all Cody’s things packed for the night, his little blanket thrown over her shoulder. Jagger looks more than a little hesitant to give him up.
“We can keep him here,” I suggest.
Jagger exhales. “No, you need this as much as I do. I just hate givin’ him up.”
“Why don’t I just take him for a few hours then?” Jenny suggests.
Jagger looks to me, and I nod, then he faces her. “Give us four?”
“Done.”
Jagger hands Cody over, and I stand, kissing him.
“Call me Jen, if you need anything at all.”
“I’m just a few apartments down with Ace, he’ll be fine. Enjoy.”
She leaves, and I stare at the door for a long while. When I turn to look back at Jagger, he’s staring at me. The look on his face is hungry, and when he walks over, he leans down and presses his cheek to mine and whispers in my ear. “Don’t be nervous, I won’t bite.”
I wrap my arms around him and press my body to his. “I hope you do, though.”
