And we do.
Neither of us gets a wink of sleep until we’re boneless and exhausted in the early hours of the morning.
And it isn’t until that moment, when I’m on the cusp of sleep, lying in the comfort of Jack’s arms, that I realize I never did the usual sweep of my apartment when I first got home. I was too busy falling into Jack to even give it a second thought.
And the locks on my front door …
I didn’t bolt them all up.
Just one lock is keeping my door secure.
And … I don’t feel scared.
I feel safe.
Because of Jack.
I open my eyes to find Jack already awake and watching me.
“Morning.” I smile. My voice is croaky.
“Morning.” He leans close and brushes a soft kiss over my lips.
I try not to breathe on him, consciously aware of my morning breath.
I snuggle against his warm chest. He wraps his arms around me.
“How long have you been awake?” I ask him.
“Not long.”
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Better than I have in a long time.”
That makes me smile.
It’s also the same for me. I can’t remember the last time I slept so easily.
I feel well rested.
I always sleep on high alert nowadays. I sleep light, ready to hear any noise that shouldn’t be there. And if I ever do drop into a deep sleep, it’s plagued with nightmares and bad memories.
But this morning, I feel lighter. Almost like I had a dreamless sleep.
It’s crazy how one person can come into your life and change things for the better in the smallest period of time. I refuse to think about how a person can do the exact opposite in limited time too.
My past is over and done with.
This is the here and now, and as I lie here, staring into Jack’s gorgeous eyes, things look a whole lot brighter.
“What time is it?” I yawn.
“Just after eight.”
I groan. “Ugh.”
“Do you have to work today?”
“Yeah. I start work in an hour.”
“I’ll drive you in.”
“You don’t have to.” I look up at him.
“If I don’t, you’ll walk, right? That means, you’ll have to leave earlier, and that means, I’ll have less time with you. Also, I need to work on my book. Where better than the library? It’s quiet, and the view is fantastic there.”
His hand squeezes my ass cheek, making me giggle.
I’m giggling all the damn time around him.
It’s hideous.
I really need to stop it.
“We can have lunch together, if you want?”
“Oh, well, I was going to go into the adoption center today on my lunch break and sign up for more dog-walking.”
He smiles. I can tell he likes that.
“Any dog in particular?” he asks.
“Gary.” I grin. “I feel bad for Pork Chop though. But I don’t think I’m strong enough to walk him when he pulls.”
“So, why don’t I join you? We can walk them together.”
“Another date?” I ask, my eyes searching his.
He stares into my eyes. “You can call it another date. I’ll just call it dating.” He presses a soft, sweet kiss to my lips. “Which is what we’re doing, if you didn’t know.”
“We are?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do I get a say in this?”
“Of course you do. You’ll say we shouldn’t date. But give me no actual solid reason as to why. I’ll counterargue that you’re being stupid because, clearly, we should be dating—if not for the chemistry between us alone. We’ll bicker back and forth. I’ll lose patience, and I’ll shut you up with a kiss. That will undoubtedly turn into sex. You’ll have a minimum of two orgasms—which is great. But then you will be late for work—not so great. Ultimately, you’ll give in and admit what we both know is inevitable for you and me, Audrey … which is, yes, we are dating.”
My mouth is hanging open in shock.
“Or”—he presses a kiss to my open lips—“you can just agree with what we both know is inevitable—that we should be a couple. And we’ll have sex now, saving the argument time. Meaning that I’ll still be able to feed you and get you to work on time.”
“Uh … I honestly don’t know what to say to that.”
He’s grinning. “Yes is the only word you have to say.”
I can’t stop staring at his handsome face. “You are like no one I have ever known in my life before.”
“Good.” He smiles. “I’m glad to be your first.” He kisses me again. “Now, say, Yes, Jack, I want to date you.”
I don’t respond even though I might want to.
It’s not the right thing to do.
I’m not meant to be happy in this way. I’m not meant to get close to anyone.
But he’s also right. This thing between us is inevitable.
Would it be so wrong for me to keep seeing Jack? See where this thing between us goes?
It might lead nowhere. It could all fall apart. I might actually realize in a week that I don’t like him.
I mean, I don’t see that happening, but you never know.
And … Jack might think the same of me.
He might get bored of my weird ways. Having to have sex with me wearing a tank top all the time. He might think, Screw this, and call things off.
I ignore the knot of pain I feel in my chest at the thought of it.
But … in the meantime, I can have some time with him now. Enjoy it before he leaves me. Which he inevitably will.
“Audrey …” Jack murmurs, kissing my jaw.
“Jack …”
“Say, Yes, Jack, we’re dating.” Another kiss to the corner of my mouth.
His lips hover a breath away. His eyes staring into mine. The smile in them making my heart beat faster.
I let out a sigh. “Okay,” I whisper.
“Okay what?”
“Okay, we’re dating.”
His face expands into a smile right before he kisses me.
“You’ve made a good choice,” he murmurs.
“I hope I don’t regret it,” I tease.
He eases me onto my back and climbs on top of me, nestling his hips between
