“I can’t live without you, angel,” he said. “I can’t let you go. Not part-time. Not anytime. We’ll go back to New York and figure this whole thing out, together.”
She gave him a noncommittal nod.
He played with a stand of her hair. “But I have to ask you drop the freelance hacking once we get back.”
“How do you know about that?” she frowned.
“What good is it to have money if I can’t spend it figuring out what you do for a living?” He chuckled and kissed her gently on her swollen lips.
“You’ve been investigating me?”
“You knew I was looking into your past.” He stood and started to dress.
Her frown deepened. “That’s different.”
“Just promise me no more illegal activities.”
“Fine.” She sat up and pulled her knees under her chin. “But I’m not going to move in with you. Not yet. Nan said I could stay at her place until she gets back.”
“We already discussed this.” He shrugged his shirt on.
“No, you made your demands. I didn’t agree to anything.” She picked at a thread on the comforter, not meeting his eye. “I need some space to get used to everything.”
“Who’s Nan?” Jack sat down on the bed and put on his shoes. He’d ignore her comment for now. She’d move in with him whether she liked it or not, she just didn’t know it yet.
“A friend.” She bit her lip and looked out the window, her expression unreadable.
He moved closer and held her head gently to face his own, their noses touching.
“I thought we were good?” He searched her eyes for some kind of reasoning and reassurance.
“We are good. But I really don’t know you, and I’m not ready to move in with you. Believe me when I say, you’re not ready for me.” She shook her head when he opened his mouth to speak. “And don’t say it. I know you’re my mate.”
He muttered a curse under his breath and stood.
“I’m not disagreeing that when it comes to making love, nothing is even close, but we don’t even know if we even like the same TV shows. Movies. Do you leave the seat up? Do you drink milk out of the carton? Will you use my toothbrush? What if we drive each other crazy?” She sighed and tucked her hair behind her ears. “We need to slow down.”
“Kind of late for that,” he muttered, trying not to sound angry.
“I gave you what you needed. Give me the same courtesy.” She raised her voice a notch and he felt his temper start to snap.
Before he realized it, he was shouting. “Whatdoyou need, then?”
She stood up suddenly, naked and heated. Thunder broke in the distance, and a cool breeze blew through the window, causing the blinds to complain and the curtains to stir.
“Really?” she shouted back. “This is the first time you’ve asked.That’swhat I need, Jack. Someone who wants to know whatIneed.” She opened a drawer and pulled out a bra and panties, then slipped them on. “So far, it’s been all about you.”
He lowered his voice “Have I fucked everything up that badly?”
“For you, it’s easy. You call me your mate, we have sex and it’s done. For me, I only know human relationships and how they work, or rather, maybe, mostly how they don’t work. I can’t trust your way. You have to admit, it’s caused a lot of problems for me so far.” She finished dressing and twisted her hair high on her head, securing it with an elastic. “My number is in your cell. We’ll drive back to New York. I’ll get settled at Nan’s and then we can go out for dinner.”
“Okay,” he sighed. “What do you like to eat? I’ll make reservations.”
“Surprise me.”
He had no comeback. Other than eggs, he had no idea what she liked, and just like that, she drove her point home. He turned, partly dejected and decidedly angry. He’d personally follow her to New York and then make some calls to have her watched. He wasn't going to lose her again.
Chapter 18
