AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Why is that funny?" he asks with a raised brow.
I have to swallow down my giggles to answer. "You want me to lie on top of you to relieve your stress."
His eyes widen, "Oh. I hear it now." He grins. "It would be quite effective, though."
"I'm sure it would be. For me too.” I can’t help but match his honesty with my own.
His eyes search my face. ”But you want to wait." It's not a question.
"I think I do. This is all moving so fast."
"I understand your reasons. I also know that the more I know you before we are intimate, the better I can pleasure you."
I press my hands to my cheeks. The back of my neck is sweating. "Can we talk about something else? Please?"
Jonas shrugs and focuses back on the foot rub. "What do you want to talk about?"
"How about Christmas? Are you looking forward to tomorrow?"
"It will be loud. And chaotic. And there will be a fight," he says, flatly. "So yes, I am looking forward to it." His deadpan delivery makes me laugh again.
"Isn't all that going to be overstimulating?"
“Yes." He watches as his hand smooths over the top of my foot. The hint of calluses on his palm send a little shiver up my leg right to my core.
"But you're still excited?"
"They're my family. I always want to spend time with them. I wouldn't ask them to change any more than they would ask me."
"You just accept each other the way you are?" He nods, and I can’t hide the hint of bitterness in my tone. "Must be nice."
"Your family is not like that." It's not a question, but I answer him anyway.
"No, there's not a whole lot of acceptance in my family. It's more about blame, and obligation."
His hands pause. "What do you want to do about your family Janey?"
"What do you mean?” So far, ignoring them has been working. I’d like to keep doing that, if at all possible.
Jonas makes one last stroke over my instep, then lowers my feet to the floor. He's sitting next to me, spinning me, pulling my legs across his in the next instant. Why does he always have to move at warp speed? It's dizzying. His hands cup my knees as he turns to look at me. "I mean, legally, your brother and father are no threat to you. But you've been supporting them for a long time. Without your money, what will they do?"
"I don't know. Matt hasn't worked in a long time. And my dad isn't well."
"Do you think either of them could work?"
"I don't think Matt's that hurt anymore. In the beginning, it was scary to see him so blank. You'd ask him a question, and you could almost see him thinking. As he healed, he got angrier, and he blamed me more. But he's always hustling, or doing other 'business', so I think he's better."
I asked him what business he has once, and my ears rang for a week after. I never asked again, but I'm sure it's not legal. The idea of my brother being part of the cancer of drugs and violence festering in my old neighborhood makes me ill.
Jonas nods, and rubs his thumb on my knee, sending a shiver up my leg. "So there's no reason for you to support him. But it's up to you. My bankers are already transferring money into an account I set up for you. That money is yours to do with as you please. You can give them some, though I really wish you wouldn't give your brother anything. He is not a good man."
"You saw him at his worst," I say, unable to not defend him. Our relationship is confusing, but before the diner, he'd never been physically violent towards me. I can't reconcile the coffee-throwing man with the man who fought to protect me all those years ago.
"The way a person acts at their worst is usually a good indicator of who they really are, Janey."
I drop my eyes, unable to look at him. He's right, I know that.
"Maybe. But he also saved me that night. I don't want to forget that." Jonas's mouth tightens, so I change the subject.
