Chapter 12 #2
About how she met Brian at the lab she used to work at in Albany, and how he was the first man to pay attention to her since before her accident.
How she was so insecure about her scars, she’d purposefully avoided men so she wouldn't have to see the inevitable disgust in their eyes. But Brian told her she was pretty. He’d text her every night.
And she finally started to believe maybe she wasn’t as ugly as she thought.
The first red flag shoots up when she tells me how they never went out on a date, because, according to Brian, staying home was a better way to get to know each other .
When I hear about the horrible things he said on her twenty-fifth birthday, my instinct is to track him down and punch him in the face. Hard. Make him hurt just like he did to my sweet, sensitive, beautiful Jess. My Jess who’s the farthest thing from ugly, and who I’m proud to have by my side.
I guess my expression must give away my feelings, because as Jess winds up her story, she gives my hand a comforting squeeze. “It’s okay, Kane. I’ve moved past it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but he was just as insecure as me.”
“That doesn’t make it okay,” I growl. “What he said to you… It’s bullshit. You know that, right? You’re beautiful. And any man would be honored to have you meet their friends. I know I am.”
Her cheeks go pink. After a brief pause, she says softly, “I didn’t think that before. But with you… You make me feel like it’s true.”
“It is true.” I lift Jess onto my lap, turning her so she’s facing me. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Kane. I know what your friends’ wives look like. They’re gorgeous. I’m just?—”
“Stunning.” Stroking my thumb across her jaw, I hold her gaze.
“Inside and out. Honestly, I wouldn’t care what you looked like, because you’re so damn beautiful inside.
But. You are beautiful. From your lips”—I press a soft kiss to them—“to your mesmerizing eyes to your adorable dimples. Every inch of you is perfect to me.”
“Kane.”
“I mean it. That asshole Brian had no idea what he was talking about. And while I’m so damn sorry he hurt you, selfishly, I’m glad he didn’t see how amazing you are. Because now you’re mine. And I promise, Jess, I will never, ever hurt you like he did. ”
With a soft smile, she says, “I know you won’t. And I’ll never hurt you, either.”
“Jess.” Framing her face, I lean in to capture her mouth with mine.
As the kiss continues with soft nibbles and strokes of our tongues, Jess makes that sexy sound in the back of her throat that always drives me wild.
She shifts on my lap, notching my growing arousal between her thighs.
Need throbs, deep and insistent, my body aching to be inside her.
To bring her so much pleasure that all this shit is a distant memory.
But that’s not what Jess needs. Not now. She needs reassurance and a hearty breakfast and for me to check her hand to make sure it’s not getting infected. She needs time to see her friends, who’ve been chomping at the bit to come over to make sure she’s okay.
Breaking the kiss, I brush my finger across her lips. “Do you know how amazing you are?”
“Not as amazing as you.”
I’ve received plenty of compliments before, but from Jess it means a hundred times as much. “You make me want to be better,” I tell her. “I never want to disappoint you.”
A beat later, the irony of my statement strikes me.
I’ve already let her down. The rocks, the tires, the package… and that’s not even counting all the times I could have defended her from the shitty things people were saying if I’d only known. If I’d only paid closer attention.
“Kane.” Her voice softens. “It’s not your fault.”
“I can’t help feeling like it is.” It’s gruff with regret. “I’m supposed to be protecting you, Jess. And you keep getting hurt, instead.”
“No.” Her forehead pinches in consternation. “What happened was not your fault. Full stop. I won’t have you taking the blame for it. Like you said, we’re not responsible for the actions of bad people. Right?”
“Right.”
“So you’re not responsible for this jerk messing with me. It’s on them. And their screwed up issues. Not you. Okay?”
I’m not entirely convinced, but I’m not about to argue, either. “Okay.”
“So.” She sits up straight. “Since you took the day off, can we do something fun? I’ve been moping around since we got home yesterday and it’s not doing any good.
And I’ve been thinking, I’m really pretty lucky.
Nothing bad happened. Everyone’s safe. I have you and Oliver and the whole B and A team looking out for me.
Plus all your friends. I should be happy, really. ”
Fuck.
How did I find someone so incredible?
From the kitchen, I hear the faint sound of another text coming in. But this time, I decide to ignore it. Right now, making sure Jess is okay is the most important thing.
“Okay, sweetheart.” I brush her hair back from her forehead.
“What would you like to do? I was just starting breakfast, so we can have that first. Then, we could watch a movie. Or play Tenebris Veil —” Cutting myself off, I glance at the bandage on her hand.
“Maybe not. But I could give you a massage. Or we could invite Nora or Thea over…”
“Those all sound really nice.” Jess wraps her legs around my waist and rotates her hips. Her heat sears into me, making me even harder than before. “But I was thinking… Maybe we could do something else?”
My jeans go tight. “Oh?”
Pink floods her cheeks. “Well. Yesterday, you mentioned some scarves?”
Oh.
I’m no longer partially hard, but achingly so.
But. Breakfast. Relaxing. Letting her friends support her.
“Are you sure?” I ask cautiously. “You didn’t eat much for dinner. And the paramedic did say you should take it easy today.”
Jess scoffs. “I think they say that to everyone. Aside from my hand, I feel fine.” She pauses, and her voice dips. “And with the scarves, I wouldn’t have to use my hand at all, would I?”
OH.
“No. You wouldn’t.” Sliding my hands under her ass, I lift her as I stand. “But after, you have to eat something. Agreed?”
Her eyes flash a deep golden green. “Of course. Whatever you say.”
Desire ignites into an inferno of need.
“Do you know how damn sexy it is when you say that?” I ask just before nipping her neck.
“When I say what?”
“ Whatever you say. I like it. A lot.”
“Oh.” Heat turns her gaze nearly black. “Then… will you use the scarves? And tell me what you want me to do?”
Fuck .
“Yes,” I growl as I carry Jess towards the bedroom. “And whatever I ask you to do, I’ll make sure you love it.”
“I know you will.” As she looks at me, her expression shifts from desire to something… deeper. Something beyond affection. Something that might verge on the same feelings I have about her.
Feelings I’m not quite ready to say, but keep circling around in my head.
I know it’s soon, but I’m falling in love with you.