More of this. More of her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Home is not a place, it’s a feeling.”
—Nicole, Ontario, Canada
April
The last time April had made out in her backyard, she was sixteen and she’d gotten caught by her dad and the porch light.
This time, the sun was already in the sky, so there would be no porch light. And as her mouth melded with Jack’s, there was no one to lecture her about the only thing boys wanted. Because in this moment, there was only one thingshewanted.
Oh yes, he continued to kiss the knot of stress right out of her. So what if they were in different leagues? Nothing mattered but the press of their bodies, the feel of his mouth, and the heat of his breath.
She was a grown-ass adult and she could make out with her brand manager on a yoga mat if she damn well pleased.
With the way Jack used his tongue?Oh yes, I damn well please.
“I actually thought I’d have to work at this.” Kitty gave a squee from somewhere near the kitchen door.
April’s entire body stilled. So, unfortunately, did Jack’s.
“Here you two are just scooting right along without even a Kitty nudge,” Kitty said with a great deal of zeal.
“I think I’m allergic to her, too,” Jack muttered against April’s mouth. “All things cat, kitty, or feline.”
April peeled herself off him, begrudgingly willing to move back to her own mat, since public displays of affection were decidedly in Kitty’s realm, not April’s.
“Stay?” Jack asked, softly, so the question was only for April. An oddly uncertain expression flashed across his face.
So she nodded. She stayed.
Oh, she climbed off him, for sure. But Jack didn’t release her hand as she moved. Instead, he tugged her beside him and tucked her there under his arm. He absolutely staked his claim on her. She felt heat rush to her cheeks, because this was all so different. She’d never felt like this with Kent. Kissing him the first time had just been the thing to do. Second date, it was time.
Then again, that was pretty much her relationship with Kent. It was time, and then it wasn’t. She could see that clearly now. Where had that clarity come from? Well, she wasn’t entirely certain.
But with Jack, this was…comfortable.
Comfortably temporary. She’d gone and fallen in love with the perfect man for her with Kent. To her surprise and dismay, it hadn’t worked out.
She might as well dive into this thing with Jack, knowing full well it wasn’t going to work out. He was committed to leaving. There was no permanence here, no risk.
This was perfect.
“I guess you’ll have to cancel with Beast, then.” Kitty sighed an overdramatic sigh. “I’ll let him know.”
“Who?” Jack asked.
“The guy with the muscles,” April reminded him. “I mentioned him last night.”
“His name is Beast?” Jack looked less than thrilled.
“Uh-huh,” Kitty said, strutting toward them.
“And he’s a real guy?” Jack didn’t seem certain.
“Whether he is real is actually up for debate,” April said. This part was true. She hadn’t actually met the man. As far as she knew, neither had Simone or Kitty. As of now, he was only an image on a screen.
