Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Jamie groaned—a sound so raw I didn’t know if it was desire or agony. But he didn’t pull away.
When we came up for air, I inhaled just enough oxygen to go back in and drown on him again. Because maybe, just maybe … this wasn’t a dream. This was love. Messy. Slow. Healing. And mine.
14
SANTA BARBARA
Jamie
The salmon with a rich whisky cream sauce—a delicious reminder of a neglected heritage—no longer felt heavy in my gut. I’d stuffed myself on Jordyn’s new specialty. She’d found a recipe, perfected it, and served it with a pride that left me speechless.
Over the last few months, we’d gotten into a rhythm. We jogged in the mornings and listened to audiobooks in the evenings. Although we’d divided and conquered responsibilities when it came to the house, it still felt as if she thought she needed to earn my favor by cooking my favorite meals.
She’d won. Ten times over.
Thanksgiving had included a feast for two. No obligation to explain us to family. No questions. Just peace. I could tell she dreaded the thought of spending turkey day with my clan, not that I’d even entertained the idea.
She got her GED a few weeks ago. I cooked to celebrate. Well, I tried. I got chewed out and was told never to step foot in the kitchen, but then she’d celebrated me, too, for helping her study and for encouraging her.
With a grin and a shake of my head at that memory, I poured glasses of wine.
I placed the glasses on the end table and sat on the couch. Jordyn walked over with a bowl of popcorn that she sat next to our Chardonnay.
“I can’t believe we’re finally watching a movie,” she said, curling up beside me.
She always curled like she was made for this spot—her cheek resting against my heart. I shifted enough to brush freshly washed hair from her face. Every movement intentional. Not to lead her on. Not to tease. Just to honor her. Respect her body. The thought of taking advantage of her before she was ready twisted something inside me.
In no time, the action flick that I paid no attention to sent flashes of light along Jordyn—her luscious thighs and the prettiest bare feet I’d ever seen planted away from me. “We gotta hang those lights we couldn’t agree on. Maybe tomorrow?” I’d keep them up forever to watch the light spark over her skin. “We have less than three weeks till Christmas.”
“Hey, you haven’t even tried the popcorn.” Lifting her head from my chest, she idly twirled the wineglass stem between her fingers.
After all these years, I never expected my body to come alive at all. Now, I reacted because of the way her fingers stroked the glass. Nervous, I redirected my focus and complied with her request, grabbing a handful and taking a wolfish bite. “Oh. Nutter butters?”
“They’re your favorite.”
The popcorn tasted good. Compared to her lips on mine? No match.
Jordyn sat up, as if the extended opening action sequence in the movie didn’t appeal to her. “Tell me something real.”
What? My blood had already stopped flowing in the right direction.
“About you as a SEAL.”
This Navy SEAL mess again? “I’m gonna—” I rounded on her, tugging her beneath me and kissed her cheek. My fingers brushed softly beneath her ribcage like a soft chord. Teasing. Gentle. Careful.
“Hey!” she squealed. “Stop tickling me or I’m out.”
“Out? You threaten to leave me every day.”
“Stick to my rules.”
“Ultimatums.” I nodded slowly. “Copy that.” I softened my touch, fingertips skimming over her ribs, in slow, thoughtful patterns. It wasn’t about arousal. I wasn’t wired that way. But I knew touch could still mean something. It could heal her. “I’m not worried about my ability to follow rules, however.”
Jordyn’s eyes sparkled in that way they did when she wanted more but didn’t know how to ask. Her lips parted.
And I felt it—the tension between us.
With her beneath me, I struggled to move a single muscle. Couldn’t get up. I sure as heck couldn’t think. She’d asked for something real. Oh yeah. I cleared my throat. “You want to know about the Marine Raiders?”
Although I didn’t get up, my abdominals contracted as I leaned away from her, and I could practically see the torture in her eyes. That pretty brown gaze exploded in fireworks. I just wanted her to know I’d always be here for her, but I wouldn’t cross the line. A line she might not be ready to erase in hindsight. But who was I to tell Jordyn how much time she needed?
Another clearing of my throat. “Nawa, Syria. Four years ago. A crappy IED plant. Stands for Improvised Explosive Device, by the way.”
“Oh, so a bomb factory. Hey, are you making this up because the movie that doesn’t have our attention sure has a lot of explosions?” She flicked a glance at the television.