Chapter 26 #2
The house looks foreign to me. It was designed with a farmhouse aesthetic when it was first built, and it fits the type of design I specialize in and adore.
The original weathered wood floors release a subtle charm, along with the sunlight streaming through the large, floor to ceiling windows, which warms the exposed brick wall behind the fireplace that’s now been painted white to match the rest of the room.
The light oak color of the wooden beams match the floor perfectly, and my vision of the delicate balance of rustic charm and modern comfort, something I would have always chosen for my own home, makes me feel like more than a guest in this house.
It feels like home.
I’m in the kitchen with my hands braced against the counter, staring down at the half-empty mug of tea I’d made an hour ago and never touched, when Jase comes over.
He softly nudges me with his shoulder playfully, in a way that says I don’t know what else to say. I ease his discomfort by speaking first.
“My brothers didn’t kill Indy, so I guess that’s a win,” I say, trying to make a joke, only he’s not laughing.
He lets out a long, tired breath. “I wouldn’t blame them if they had. Trust me, the thought went through my mind.”
I turn toward him, crossing my arms. “Then why is she still here?” I take a deep breath to center myself, but it’s hard when none of this makes sense to me anymore. “You say that you told her to leave you alone. That you won’t be going back to her, then why is she still here?”
My question catches him off guard, and I can see how much this situation is affecting him.
He runs a hand over his jaw and the slight stubble that’s growing.
“I wish I knew, baby. I don’t know what she and my mama have up their sleeves.
I just know that this is more than her needing a place to stay.
I don't know what I’m supposed to do. I can’t just tell her to kick her out, not that she’d listen if I did. ”
“She says it’s temporary, but your mama still thinks my being here is temporary.”
“It’s not.”
I place a hand on his shoulder to reassure him it isn’t.
“I’m not saying it is. But the entire reason we are pretending to be in a relationship is to make her believe it.
Yet here she is, trying to scheme her way into getting you back with your ex, a woman she apparently approves of.
If this fake relationship we’re in is meant to push Indigo away, but she isn’t leaving, then why are we still pretending? ”
“It’s not,” he says, and I don't quite understand.
“What?”
“It’s not pretend. It's not temporary, Monroe. You and I are…”
“Complicated,” I finish for him. “I’m pregnant with your baby.
Having your ex live next door when she’s been clear about her intentions to get you back is…
” I pause, pressing my fingers to my temple.
“Do you have any idea what it felt like standing there with my brothers, having them hear for the first time that she’s living here?
Having her look at you as if there’s something more.
They don’t trust our relationship, Jase, and this will only make it worse. ”
“Monroe,” he cuts in gently, gripping my chin and forcing me to look up at him.
“I don’t need them to trust anything. I want to fix things with your brothers.
To make things right, the way they used to be before I fucked shit up with Nash.
But I'm not worried about what they think of this. I need you to know she means nothing to me. I am with you. I’m showing up for you. ”
My chest tightens, unwanted tears pricking my eyes. “Then show up for me by not putting me in situations where I feel like I have to defend you.” I know it’s unfair of me to say it, but I can't hold back. It’s not his fault that she’s here, but the fear of losing him to her is too strong to ignore.
He leans in closer, pushing me back against the counter. It seems we keep finding ourselves in the same situation. “I’ll figure something out.”
I search his face, looking for any sign that he’s not being completely honest with me, but I find nothing. He seems genuine. He’s telling the truth about what he wants, and I’m not being fair to either of us by continuing to lie about what I want.
“I don’t want you to regret anything about this,” I say quietly, voicing my vulnerabilities instead of trying to pretend they don’t exist.
He releases me, turning away as he desperately runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know how else to say it to make you believe.”
I want to walk away, avoid where this conversation is about to lead, but I don’t, and a second later he doesn’t let me.
Suddenly, he’s rushing toward me and caging me against the wall.
One hand above my head, the other on my hip, he’s holding me down, not letting me escape, and with his cock pressing against me and showing me exactly how he’s planning on making me believe he’s being honest.
“You are it for me, Monroe,” he whispers against my lips. “Sure, this baby has forced me to open my eyes and figure out what I want, but after our night together, I never stopped thinking of you. I would have gone for this regardless of your getting pregnant.”
I suck in a sharp breath, but he doesn’t stop.
His warm mouth meets the sensitive skin of my neck as he licks and sucks, placing hasty kisses against me.
I arch my back, tilting my head to give him better access.
“All I think about is you,” he murmurs in between kisses.
“All I want is you. The most stubborn, guarded, and kindest woman I've ever met. You drive me crazy, Monroe Bishop. I never meant to make you feel like you’re second to anyone.”
The sincerity in his voice cuts through some of the anger simmering within me.
Something's changed since last night. We both went places we hadn't been to in so long, somewhere I’d promised myself I wouldn’t, but now that I have, I can’t go back to how things were before.
Maybe it took Indigo threatening everything I’ve ever dreamt of for me to realize it.
I want Jameson King. Not only to raise our baby together but to be with him.
I wrap my hands around his neck, bringing him down closer to me.
“If we do this, Jase,” I pause, my heart racing in my chest like never before.
“If we do this, we do it together. We don’t let anyone come between us, ever.
Not my brothers, not this town, not your parents, who want nothing more than for us to fail. ”
My eyes are fixed on his, and the emotion they show makes my knees weak. The blue is brighter than I’ve ever seen, glossy and full of such raw emotion. My lips quiver as his voice nearly breaks. “Are you saying what I think you are?”
I nod. “I only panicked because I realized you were right. This isn’t fake, it never was. It was unfair of me to push you away, but I won’t anymore. I’m not making any promises. Jase, I am so scared I’m going to fuck this up, but I’m done letting fear keep me from doing what I want.”
His lips curve up into a sexy smirk. The smug bastard is going to make me say it. “And what is it you want?”
I nudge him with my shoulder, dropping my hands from around his neck, but he grips my wrists and holds them in place. I swallow back the lump in my throat, unable to look away from him and the intense gaze he’s giving me.
“I want us to try. We’ll take it slow, see where this goes. This baby is our priority, but I want us to try to make it work.”
The excitement in his grin makes my heart nearly stop. This man has been so patient with me. He practically rearranged his entire life to make room for me and our baby, and all I’ve done is make things complicated every step of the way.
He trails his fingers over my cheek, wiping away a stray tear I hadn’t even realized I'd let out. “I promise you I won’t pressure you into anything. As much as I want a replay of that night, and take you upstairs right now and make you beg—”
I let out a soft giggle. “Remember, my sweet Jase. I don't beg. I told you once before. I’d never beg you for anything.”
“Oh, you will, baby. You will when I have you screaming on your knees, begging me to make you come with my cock. I want to be inside of you so badly, Moonshine, but I won’t until you’re begging for it too.”