I set my phone down on the table by the bed and climbed in behind him, snaking my arm around his waist while I painted soft kisses between his shoulder blades.
“Am I dreaming?” Jesse’s voice was groggy and full of sleep, but I could still note the hope in his tone.
“No, I don’t think so.”
He turned over, blinking at me with hooded eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I croaked out, brushing the hair off his forehead. “You need a haircut, I think.”
A sleepy smile stretched his lips.
“I’ll put that on my list. Why are you here, Em?”
He opened his eyes, wide enough to scrutinize me as he waited for my answer.
“Why do you think I’m here?”
He caught my hand when I drifted it down his cheek.
“I’m not assuming anything, for both our sakes.” He turned his head to kiss my palm. “I don’t want to push you or get my hopes up. So, I’ll ask you again. Why are you here?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Is that it? You couldn’t sleep?” he rasped, studying me without moving an inch. “Are you feeling okay?”
I shook my head, my throat too tight to form any words.
“What’s wrong?” He dipped his head closer but still wouldn’t come all the way. It was up to me to close that distance. My heart thudded in my ears as I inched toward him.
“I didn’t want to be in your bed without you.” I cradled his cheek and scraped my nails along the extra layer of scruff on his jaw.
“Did you walk all this way for a booty call? Do the kids still say that?” The corner of his mouth tipped up.
I shook my head and hooked my leg around his hip to draw him closer. He stared at me for a long moment before pulling me under him and rolling on top of me.
“I need you to be sure this time.Sofucking sure.” He settled in between my legs, his body quivering against me. “Because once we do this, that’s it. I can’t go back.”
“I love you.”
He stilled on top of me, eyes wide and jaw slack.
“Yeah?” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the tentative hope in his gaze.
“Yeah.” I nodded and wrapped my legs around his waist.
“Say it again. I don’t think I heard you.”
I pushed against his shoulder to flip us over, curling my fingers into his hair as he narrowed his eyes at me, as if he was waiting for me to take it back.
“I…” I whispered, brushing my lips against his cheek and running them down his neck. “Love.” I licked his Adam’s apple as it rolled up and down his throat, his groan vibrating against my tongue. “You.” I pressed my hands into the mattress on either side of him, trying to hold steady when the frame wobbled beneath us.
“Since that first day. And even when I tried to forget about it, I never stopped.” I traced his lips as the rise and fall of his chest pressed against mine.
Jesse dove his hand into my hair, weaving his fingers around a fistful before he yanked my head back.
“Emily, please.” His voice was low and husky. “Don’t do this to me if you don’t mean it.”
