MOM
Dylan’s coming here tomorrow. He’ll lend me money.
I felt myself being pulled into a sense of obligation and helplessness, when I heard the bathroom door open. Setting my phone aside, I watched Jonah walk out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his lower body and his chest bare. My face heated. I got to sleep with this godlike man, with a body to die for, and a face I’d always dream about.
“Like what you see?” Jonah said when he caught me looking.
I blushed and looked away as my phone beeped with a text message. I ignored it.
“Very much,” I said, slipping out of the bed and walking over to him.
It was crazy. I wanted my arms around him, to touch him, to feel his body against mine. Even if we weren’t having sex.
Jonah pulled me to him and kissed me fully on the lips even as I protested.
“I must have morning breath,” I said, mortified that he wanted to kiss me before I could brush my teeth.
Jonah kissed me again deeply. “I don’t care,” he said, his voice husky, and he nipped at my lower lip. “You’re perfect, all the time.”
More than mortified about my breath, I was starting to be mortified about something else. Jonah found me attractive unconditionally. I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t care that he made me feel so accepted and cherished. So unlike my mother, who never failed to remind me that it was my job to always help her out.
Why was I having these thoughts?
To distract myself, I pushed Jonah away under the pretext of going to the bathroom, and I felt his eyes follow me as I shut the door and fumbled for my toothbrush while I tried to collect my thoughts.
The bathroom door opened, and I turned, my brush hovering just above my mouth.
“Is it Evie?” Jonah asked, following me. “Are you worried about her?”
I nodded. “I need to give her a call soon. That’ll make me feel better,” I lied.
Jonah disappeared, and I watched as the door fell shut again. He’d bought it, I thought, which was strange.
I brushed my teeth and washed up, and when I walked out, I found Jonah standing by the doorway, watching me with a knowing look.
“What is it?” I asked, wondering if I’d done something wrong. Had I used the wrong towel? Not worn the bathrobe right?
He pushed off from the wall and took my hand.
“Is it really Evie that’s troubling you right now?”
I glanced at him, debating what to say, and finally shook my head. He was freaking me out.
“Well, Dylan hasn’t contacted you in a while, and I know for a fact that you’re on top of things at work. So, what is it? What put that frown on your face when I kissed you earlier this morning?”
Sheesh. The guy was perceptive as hell.
I swallowed.
“The truth, Lexi,” he said, his voice a warning this time.
“I’m worried we’re getting too close,” I admitted, which was partly true.
“Is that so bad?”
“You find me desirable all the time, you treat me like I’m something special?—”
“Of course I find you desirable,” he interrupted. “You raised Evie all on your own. You’ve been doing so much on your own and I respect you so much for that. Don’t ever be afraid of getting in too deep with me. Do you understand?”
