Adam opened the door, letting Janae into his house. The home was still, quietly welcoming them when they’d both crossed the threshold to its awaiting sanctuary.
He’d loved this place from the moment he’d started real estate searches in the area when he realized he’d be returning home for good. He could’ve taken Janae anywhere, even back to the sleepy cabin where they’d spent their first night together. However, considering how good it would feel to wake up to her in his bed on her first visithere and the possessive way his insides twisted while watching her on that stage, he wanted her here, in his space, with him.
Was it slightly cavemanish? Absolutely. Did he give a good goddamn? Not in the least.
Once he closed the door behind him, he felt the light touch of her fingers sliding against his, trying to pull his mind back to her.
She didn’t have to worry, he didn’t think there would ever come a time he could willingly erase her from his mind.
“Everything okay? You’ve seemed a bit off since we left the fashion show.”
Adam looked into her deep brown eyes, trying hard to control his building need to possess her. It was clawing at his insides since she’d stepped away to talk to her ex privately, and if he were being honest, he was having a hard time letting that imagery go.
He wasn’t a possessive man by nature, but something basal climbed up from his gut once he saw Marq and Janae huddled together talking about God knew what.
If he were honest, the sight of the two of them talking privately wasn’t really the issue. It was the conversation witnessing such a sight sparked. His mind traveled back to an hour ago when he was standing next to James, the pair watching his parents seated on the bleachers across the gym.
“They look like they’re getting along well, right?”
They didn’t look like they were fighting, but Adam understood that wasn’t exactly what James was asking.
“They look like parents talking, James.”
“If you’d ever seen my parents a few years back, you wouldn’t have believed this kind of thing could happen.”
“Oh, yeah?”Janae had shared some details of her divorce, but he’d never openly share those details unless she gave him expressed permission.
“Yeah,”James had replied.“The fact that they’ve been getting along so well for the last couple of years gives me hope.”
“For what, exactly?”Adam tried his best to keep his voice neutral. James wasn’t just another student Adam was listening to. He had a vested interest in this scenario, and holding James’ counsel didn’t necessarily feel as simple as lending an ear to the boy.
“For my parents to get back together. That’s really what I want. For them to be happy again. My mom’s been real lonely, and I want her to have someone to take care of her the way my dad used to.”
Adam’s stomach sank, but he couldn’t let on to James. Instead, he held a neutral expression on his face and nodded.
“It’s obvious you love your mother very much, James. But I think maybe you should discuss your desires with her. Let her know how you’re feeling.”
“You’re right, Dr. Henderson. Maybe if I talk to her, it’ll give her a little push to bring our family back together.”
Unsure of what to say next, Adam glanced up to find Janae and Marq walking away from the bleachers. And for the first time since he’d started pursuing her, Adam wondered if this was where he was supposed to be.
Sure, James was a minor, but that didn’t mean he shouldn’t be listened to. That didn’t mean his hopes and dreams didn’t matter and that they shouldn’t be taken into consideration.
Adam knew what it felt like to be ignored, to have his thoughts swept aside and devalued because he was technically still a kid.
If his father had listened to what Adam wanted, he would’ve quit basketball following his sophomore year. But Grady Henderson didn’t listen to anyone but himself, and so Adam had not only continued in basketball throughout high school, but college too, right on into being drafted by the NBA.
Yeah, there were perks he’d acquired along the way. Ultimately, however, his father constantly shoving basketball and the life that came with it down his throat had only managed to push Adam away for twenty years.
He didn’t want to be the cause of that sort of tension and painfor James. He didn’t want to be the cause of discord between mother and son either.
Could Adam deal with the alternative, though? Could he give up the thing, the person, who owned him heart and soul?
He hadn’t spoken those words to Janae yet, but the feelings were there. He wanted to speak them, but now he couldn’t. Not with James’ words echoing in his head.
“Adam.” Her soft voice was filled with concern, breaking through the haze of his selfishness mixed with his desire. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” His voice was a quiet whisper, but even he was surprised at the depth of need flowing through it. “The only thing wrong with me is that I’m not touching your bare flesh yet.”
