Chapter 29
A Saturday Together
Iwoke up facing Jack in bed. The bed that I’d started to see as too big, too bulky, too much, after hearing those complaints so often, looked just right with him in it.
I’d led him to the bedroom last night when we’d both begun to drift off on the couch.
Sleeping on the couch when I had a perfectly comfortable large bed seemed silly.
Jack had stripped down to his boxers before climbing in with me.
I’d scooted closer to him, and his arms settled around me as our heads rested close together on separate pillows.
Closing my eyes to sleep had been a simple thing.
Waking with him there felt just as simple. His breathing was slow and even, his eyes still shut. Jack didn’t snore. Sometimes I wanted to pinch myself because everything seemed so easy with him that it didn’t feel real.
His nose wrinkled, making me want to run a finger over it. Then his breathing shifted. His eyelashes appeared thicker resting against his cheeks, especially when they fluttered before opening. Warmth filled his eyes when they settled on me.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice rough with sleep.
“Good morning,” I repeated back, my chest squeezing. I closed the distance between us, kissing him. Even with him half-asleep, the way our lips met was intense. There was no hesitancy, more a mutual dance of mouths as if we were mapping the exact shape of each other all over again.
I pushed him to his back, resting my body half over him as I stroked my tongue against his, shallow strokes, barely penetrating his mouth, but they sent heat fluttering inside me as I stared into his eyes.
Soon our lips parted, and we panted against each other. My breasts pressed into his chest, and we were in bed, my thigh over one of his legs while I kissed him out of breath. I’d probably turned him on. I hadn’t considered that. I’d just been doing what I’d wanted.
Would he expect sex now that it was morning?
Maybe he hadn’t expected it at first, but after that kiss…
I had really liked having sex with Jack.
I hadn’t been thinking about that when I’d kissed him, though, and I kind of had to pee, but jumping up now would make me a cocktease.
Wouldn’t it? Neil had accused me of that before, and it had led to me giving him blow jobs to take care of the erections I caused.
I’d enjoyed having Jack in my mouth that one time, but the experience had felt different. He hadn’t asked for it; I’d offered. Maybe if I—
“Coffee?” Jack murmured against me, and I pulled back, blinking down at him. One of his hands ran over his face, and he smiled up at me ruefully. “I need it to wake up. I don’t mind making it myself, as long as that’s okay?”
“I can make it. I could make us some breakfast, too. Just give me a few minutes.” I rolled out of bed, everything settling now that I had something else to focus on.
I ran to the bathroom first, made quick work of it, and realized I had morning breath while I’d kissed him.
A quick pass of the toothbrush became necessary.
I passed Jack still lying in bed, the sheet slung low on his hips, making him look like he could be naked underneath.
Rumpled and naked and him, Jack, right there in my bed.
Heat slid inside me. I was tempted to kiss along those divots that led beneath the blanket, and I had to swallow as I fled toward the coffee maker.
When Jack joined me in the kitchen, he wore his slacks but he’d left his shirt off, and my fingers itched to slide over his chest. I handed him his coffee instead. Suddenly, all I could think about was touching him until he wanted sex. I should have jumped him in bed when I’d had the chance.
He took a seat on a barstool and sipped his coffee, staring at me over the cup.
I wondered if I looked as confused as I felt, and I turned toward the fridge to escape his gaze. “I think I have eggs, and I always have toast. If I—”
“Just coffee is good for now.”
I straightened, turning to face him.
“Where’s your cup?” he asked. “Sit and wake up with me?” He patted the barstool beside him.
I nodded, taking the creamer out. When I had my half-cream and half-coffee mixture, I sat close beside him. Our arms brushed each time I lifted my mug.
“Do you remember when we kissed in my apartment?” he asked.
Both of the amazing kisses we’d had there battled for my attention. “Which time?”
He hummed. “Fair point. I was thinking about after our dance, when you told me you’d been waiting for me to kiss you all night. I ended up backing you up to the wall, and you wrapped your legs around me while my head exploded, the kiss was so good.”
The heat in my body turned into an inferno just from thinking about it. “Yeah,” I said softly, my fingers tightening around the handle of my cup. “I remember.”
“That kiss was such a turn-on. Well, every kiss with you is a turn-on. I really enjoy kissing you. It’s almost as if we become fully in sync while our mouths touch.” His arm brushed against mine as his hand flexed around his mug. “I’ve never fallen into anyone so easily with just a kiss.”
“I like kissing you, too,” I said.
“I know you do.” He swiveled toward me. “But you’ve started tensing up when we kiss, so I thought I’d remind you of what happened after the kiss in my apartment.”
“After?” I blushed as I recalled telling him very clearly that I wanted to have sex with him.
“There it is,” he murmured, bumping shoulders with me before turning back to his coffee.
“I asked you if you wanted more than kissing. You had your legs around me and were rocking against my erection. God, you were so sexy. I was pretty sure I knew what you wanted, but I still asked. I’m always going to ask.
I’m going to make sure we’re both on board for more.
Then, now, in the future, when we’re married and growing old together. ”
I stared at him, my throat too tight for words. I could picture him with gray hair.
“You don’t have to worry about me getting turned on, Hailey.
Sure, it’s going to happen. A lot, because I find you sexy as hell.
But that doesn’t mean we’re automatically going to have sex or that I expect to.
I want you to be just as enthusiastic as that time at my place every time, or we don’t do anything. Make sense?”
Everything within me went still. The thoughts swirling in my head since the night before blew apart, with only one truth remaining. It was bright and shimmery. I nodded at him, letting him know I was listening, even as the truth pushed at my lips, tumbling out of my mouth.
“I love you, Jack.”
His pupils dilated, and he sucked in a breath.
“Sorry! That was silly.” I covered my face with my hands. “You said we’d take it slow. We’ve only had one date. I shouldn’t have said that. Pretend I didn’t.”
Jack’s hands settled over mine, pulling them away from my face. “Not a chance. I’m so happy right now.” His eyes had the intent look that made me want to fall into him. “I love you, too.”
Hearing him say it was different from all the times I’d heard the words before. It felt like something I needed to hear, but also like something I’d already known. “Isn’t this too soon?” I asked.
He shook his head. “We may have only had our first official date last night, but we’ve been drifting toward each other ever since that first Friday when you sat down at my bar.” He squeezed my hands. “It feels perfect to me. Doesn’t it feel that way to you?”
“Yes,” I admitted. We moved toward each other at the same time, our mouths fitting in that combustible way we had. The apartment around us disappeared, and all that existed was Jack and the way he made me feel.
My lips curved against his in a smile, then we pulled apart. “I’m making you breakfast.”
“I can help,” he offered, starting to slide off his stool.
I stopped him with my hand on his arm. “Nope. I want to do something for you this time.”
His eyes followed me as I moved around the kitchen. I brought the coffee pot to him, refilling his cup, and his lip trembled as he stared down at it.
“Okay?” I asked.
His hand moved to the back of his neck. “If by okay you mean bursting out of my skin, then yeah. I’m terrific.”
I grinned at him, then returned the carafe where it belonged.
While I cooked breakfast—eggs, toast, and some potatoes I’d found—he watched me.
He didn’t get bored and reach for his phone as a distraction.
He didn’t try to correct anything I did or give me directions to help.
His eyes remained on me, as if he couldn’t look away.
I set a plate in front of him and sat beside him again with my own and a glass of juice that he’d declined.
“Thank you. It looks great.” Jack picked up his fork, savoring the first bite.
I wasn’t the best cook, but I wasn’t terrible either. Competent, especially at no-frills types of meals. It was a skill Mr. Miller had taught me, saying everyone should know the basics of cooking to be an adult. He’d always been the better cook growing up.
“I have to go to the bar this evening, but I’d like to spend the rest of the weekend with you. As much time as I possibly can. Oh, and my parents invited us to dinner tomorrow. Would that be okay?” Jack asked.
That he wanted not only to spend time with me but also wanted me to meet his family made me giddy, but I focused on his last words. “Why wouldn’t it be okay?”
“I don’t want to crowd you. It’s okay if you’d like some time alone. You need to tell me if I get too—” He swallowed. “Clingy.” His voice went quiet on the word.
My hand found his, linking our fingers. “Same for you, then. I really want to come sit at the bar tonight to be with you, but if that’s too much, tell me.”
His hand turned in mine, linking them better. “Not too much. It makes me happy.”
“You wanting to be around me makes me happy, too.”
He nodded, searching my eyes. “But you’ll say something if that changes?”
“Yes,” I agreed.